According to recent research, each cigarette smoked reduces a person's life by approximately 20 minutes. The decision to quit smoking is challenging, with individuals having various motivations for doing so. Whether it concerns oneself or a loved one, the upcoming No Smoking Day presents an opportunity to abandon the habit permanently.
The health risks associated with smoking are widely recognized, including numerous medical issues and potentially fatal diseases. However, the impact of smoking on oral health is less commonly acknowledged. Smoking can lead to gum disease, oral cancer, tooth staining, and bad breath. These effects are not limited to cigarettes but also apply to cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, and smokeless tobacco like snuff.
Users of smokeless tobacco may absorb cancer-causing chemicals at levels comparable to or exceeding those from cigarette smoke. Quitting tobacco can improve social interactions and professional relationships by eliminating bad breath and other negative effects.
Quitting smoking significantly reduces health risks over time. Within five to ten years of quitting, the increased risk of cancers in the mouth, throat, and voice box decreases by half. After twenty years without smoking, these risks return to levels seen before starting smoking.
There are numerous incentives for quitting smoking—improving personal health or extending time with loved ones being primary reasons. Benefits begin almost immediately after quitting:
Financially, quitting could save an individual approximately £3,000 annually based on average consumption rates.* Thus, stopping smoking benefits both health and finances.
For those choosing to quit smoking this year or encouraging others to do so on No Smoking Day, various resources such as tools and apps are available to assist in achieving this goal.
*Average of 10 cigarettes per day @ £17 per pack of 20
