Source: www.bdlive.co.za
Want to quit smoking and have a sparkling smile?
Any type of smoking (cigarettes, cigars, pipe) or chewing tobacco can leave you with a really nasty taste and smell in your mouth.
You can do it! Keep your hands and mouth busy with something else whenever you have the urge to light up by…
- Sip and enjoy your drinks a little longer. Though its not easy with plain water, do it with fruit juices, preferably with no sugar added.
- Coffee and tea may trigger smoking habit, as it tastes better with cigarettes. If you crave for your coffee, take it with food or snacks to nibble with instead of cigarettes. Taking lots of tea, coffee or fizzy drinks can also cause stubborn stains on your teeth.
- Chew a sugarless chewing gum with xylitol after a meal to break the temptation to smoke after a meal. This will help to cleanse your mouth by increasing salivary flow and thereby reducing your caries risks. As a bonus, you will feel the difference of fresher breath.
- Nibble on snacks such as fresh fruits, nuts (if you are not allergic), cheese, or any less-sugar, less-fat local snacks like sweet potato crisps (kerepek) or banana chips.
Above all, don’t forget!
- Brush your teeth and gums twice a day morning and before going to bed with a fluoride toothpaste. Do not forget your tongue. Brushing your tongue will remove smelly bacteria that cause bad breath.
- Floss once a day to remove hidden food particles and plaque, a coating of bacteria that forms around the tooth. Flossing also helps prevent periodontal disease, another common cause of bad breath.
- Rinse your mouth with water after every meal or you may use your preferred daily mouth rinse.
- Eat a balanced meal. Take lots of fruits and vegetables. Reduce sugary food and drinks.
- Visit your family dentist regularly for early detection and prevention of oral diseases.
Dr. Nurul Asyikin Yahya and Dr. Noriah Yusoff are Dental Public Health Specialists, attached to Faculty of Dentistry, The National University of Malaya (UKM). Dr. Nurul is also a member of the NARCC.
[This article belongs to The Malaysian Medical Gazette. Any republication (online or offline) without written permission from The Malaysian Medical Gazette is prohibited.]