Wednesday March 13th - National No Smoking Day.

If like the millions of smokers out there you have thought about giving up, why not make this this year to really go for it!

This year the theme to the national campaign is Swap Fags for Swag is all about what smokers will gain when they quit - as well as improved health, they'll have extra cash to spend on whatever they like!

Have a look an the information below, it might just help give you the incentive you need. Giving up smoking will not only improve your overall health, but also your dental health.

Why do smokers smoke?

Most smokers have ‘triggers’ for lighting up. These could be meeting up with friends, after a meal, a pint in the pub, coffee break at work, making a phone call…

Keeping a ‘smoking diary’ for a couple of weeks before your quit date, to record when and why you smoke, can help you understand your smoking behaviour and plan for how you’ll get over those triggers while you are quitting. Once you have stopped you might use the diary to help you stay stopped, cope with cravings, and make notes about how you’re feeling and the benefits you’re enjoying.Continue using your diary when you begin your quit journey. As you approach your quit date try creating a diary to plan for the weeks ahead. You might want to include some of the following:

What you’ll be doing (work outside home, work at home, social activities, study)

Who you’ll spend time with (have I told them I’m quitting? Will they be supportive?)

Possible smoking triggers (look back at your pre-quitting diary to notice patterns)

How you’ll cope with them

Rewards (set yourself goals and reward yourself if you achieve them)

Make notes on how each day went and how you felt

Use the diary to make notes about your quit plan – think in advance of how you might cope with smoking trigger points and cravings. Perhaps you’ll want to plan some treats to reward yourself for your first smoke-free day, weekend or week, and you may need to rearrange your social life at first to avoid being with people who smoke. You might also want to arrange a fun way to spend your free time on the first few days with someone who will really support you with your quit attempt!

What if you do have a cigarette?

OK, you’ve slipped up – it’s not the end of the world and no reason to abandon your quit attempt. If you got a cigarette from someone else, tell them you wish you hadn’t had it and ask them to help you stay stopped in the future. If you’ve bought cigarettes, throw them away.

Think about why you had that cigarette and how you could have avoided smoking, note it in your diary, then keep on with your quit plan. Perhaps you need more help that you haven’t yet taken up – nicotine replacement, your local stop smoking service, a helpline…

Even several months or years after quitting, you may still have times when you think about smoking. Don’t get complacent and think you’re no longer addicted so it’s safe to have one or two cigarettes – after all the effort you’ve put into quitting, don’t risk starting again!

Finally...

Get as much help and support as you can to help you stay stopped – friends, family, work mates, your GP, practice nurse or pharmacist, local stop smoking service, dentist/hygieinist, quitting buddy. If we can be of any help here at Absolute Dental, or you would like more advice or futher quit tips, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01548 852165 or email info@absolute-dental.co.uk