With Stoptober back again this October – a campaign that has already helped more than one million people quit smoking – we want to remind clients and indeed everyone in the wider community just how damaging cigarettes can be to your oral health.

We would urge anyone still smoking to take this opportunity to give up smoking using the Stoptober family as support. Public Health England recommends e-cigarettes as a further source of support as well as nicotine replacements to keep cravings at bay.

Not only will you be better off financially but your overall health, including your oral health, will certainly benefit. Someone smoking twenty cigarettes a day would be typically about £4,000 a year better off. That could buy a lot of dentistry.

Tim Rumney, clinical director and practice manager at Illume, says: “Smoking is one of the major risk factors for gum disease because people who smoke are more likely to produce bacterial plaque.

“Gums are affected because smoking causes a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream and can worsen gum disease which is still amongst the most common causes of tooth loss in adults.

“Smoking is also linked to other cancers but many people are still unaware that it is one of the main causes of mouth cancer too which claims thousands of lives every year.

“That is why our Healthy Mouth Reviews include screening for mouth cancer because early diagnosis and treatment are key to better outcomes for clients.

“I would really urge anyone who still smokes, and thankfully, the numbers are reducing every year, to use Stoptober to quit.

“Your oral health will definitely benefit and for anyone who has smoked for many years, has tooth staining and is keen to improve the appearance of their teeth, we also offer a range of dental hygiene services that can help to Light Up Your Smile again,” he added.

Illume has recently invested in the latest air tooth polisher which works by combining air, sodium bicarbonate, glycine or erythritol powder and a gentle jet stream of water to remove surface stains caused by tobacco.

This service is offered by our hygienists and after use clients see and feel the difference with significantly improved tooth brightness as well as a noticeably sparkling fresh mouth.

Tim adds: “If you have been a heavy smoker, however, and have severe tooth discolouration then it may also be worth investing the money saved by giving up smoking on our tooth whitening treatments.

“This professional service will help remove stains and dark pigmentation from the teeth with a gentle sustained release action. No conventional drilling is required to achieve a whiter, brighter smile and so it avoids invasive treatments such as crowns and veneers,” he added.

You can find out more about Stoptober and the support available here.