World No Tobacco Day – May 31st 2014

Each year on May 31st, the World Health Organization celebrates ‘World No Tobacco Day’, to highlight the health risks associated with smoking and to promote effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

Current statistics show that tobacco kills nearly six million people every year, with more than 600,000 of those, being non-smokers, from breathing second-hand smoke.

The harmful effects of tobacco consumption to our health are well known, but did you know that smokers are more likely to lose teeth than non-smokers?

The more cigarettes a day someone has smoked, the higher the risk for tooth loss! The highest risk was among current smokers who smoked 25 or more cigarettes a day. It was lower for those who smoked 1 to 10 cigarettes a day.

Smoking can cause bad breath, tooth discolouration, increased plaque and calculus build up, higher risk of dental decay, dry mouth, increased risk of developing oral cancer and also increased risk of developing periodontal disease.

Might it be the right time to quit?

Call Quitline on 13 78 48