Healthy Mouth Tips

If you are a smoker stop!  Smoking can make gum disease worse.  Smokers are more likely to produce the bacterial plaque that leads to gum disease.  Smoking also leads to less oxygen in the bloodstream and so infected gums do not heal.  Smoking can lead to tooth staining, more teeth loss due to gum disease (gingivitis), bad breath and, in more severe cases, cancer of the mouth.

If you need help or advice about stopping smoking, you can call the free NHS Smoking helpline on 0800 169 0 169. Advice is available between 7am-11pm seven days a week. Your GP will also be able to advise you about smoking services in your local area. www.nhs.uk/smokefree