Smoking and Your Teeth

[Knothead]

In another thread, the subject came up about the effects of tobacco on your gums and teeth. I was P.O.ed about how my previous dentist lectured me about smoking, instead of really helping with a potentially terrible gum problem.

I wound up going to a new dentist, who immediately hustled my butt into a Periodontist, although it was too late to save one tooth, and then another.

In that thread, a couple of members weighed in with, it turns out, some VERY accurate information (I love this place!) ) about the effects of smoking on your mouth. I've been checking it out, and have come to this conclusion...if you're a smoker, you need to check in with a Periodontist...these people specialize in "under the gum" care, where you can't go with a toothbrush or floss. If you've been smoking for many years (like me), the chances are good that there's some stuff going on in your mouth that your Dentist may not be aware of...or telling you about.

Hope this'll do some good.

[NeoStarO1]

Wow Knothead,

That is really informitive. I been struggling with this very issue (smoking)myself and plan to try and quit again for the millionth time. I hope I am successful this time. Been smoking for 21 years and want to quit badly and i keep freaking out after so many hours. So im trying to figure out if its mental the thoughts that say....I need a smoke I need a smoke....then you go trashing around the old astrays to see if you can find a butt. pathitic huh? Or if its a phyical thing?

thing is when i stress out is when i smoke the most. Less stress I smoke less. More stress......well you get the idea. I don't handle stress well. even tho others say I handle it well.

This is a sore issue for me and I really want to be sucessfull at quiting. Its high time for me.

smoking is really bad for you. I know that and so why do i struggle with it so much?


NeoStar

[caddmannq]

...so why do i struggle with it so much?

Simple. Nicotine is more addictive than heroin. It's just not so immediately debilitating, so smokers are considred "foolish" while needle-freaks are considered "poor victims". Also, tobacco is a major revenue generator in the US. Opiates generate cash for our political enemies.

[osprey4]

Hats off to Knothead and NeoStarO1! Recognizing a problem is half the solution.

I don't even smoke and I have a periodontal problem. But I'm fortunate to have a wife who is a serious fanatic about keeping all her teeth and she keeps me at it. I've still got all but one of them and plan not to lose any more.

John

[Knothead]

I think tobacco is MUCH worse than heroin to kick...'nuff said...

Let's just beta-test this notion:
Take a group of smokers (and I ain't alking about 3-4 a day types; I mean ones like me who go thru 3 bic lighters a WEEK!! ) and a group of smack freaks, and put 'em in a large room.) Each gets a fix, and now we wait...

60 minutes later: the smack freaks are nodding, well-behaved, (urk! it appears some may have OD'ed; well, you can't get any more well behaved than that...)

The tobacco freaks are wild-eyed, and fighting over the last 1/2" butt..

3 days later, the smack freaks are beginning to rouse from 'cold turkey'; they are requesting food, and their color is coming back.

Meanwhile, the smokers are planning insurrection, threatening to takes hostages, and generally climbing the walls. They have tried to roll and ignite the smoking patches.

Their re-integration into society looks far more doubtful than the heroin addicts, who are being led out of the testing area for their own safety...

I planned out a rigid plan of action to gradually quit smoking over the next 20 years. Every quarter I reduce my daily quota by half a cigarette and to make up for it I'm on a mild brand of cigars (La Finca). So I figure that pretty soon I'll be "weaned" of cigarettes for good.

Then I'll come up with a plan to give up cigars. The trick is to do it slowly and gradually so you don't feel nicotine deprivation.

My wife thinks otherwise. When our younger son refused to give up the bottle at 22 months, she sat him down and showed him a full bottle of milk and right there in front of him broke it on the floor. Then she told him "It Broke" and that was that. The guy did protest a bit but sure enough started drinking from a glass.

But I don't agree. I'm more a slow and gradual type of personality.

[NeoStarO1]

The tobacco freaks are wild-eyed, and fighting over the last 1/2" butt..



Meanwhile, the smokers are planning insurrection, threatening to takes hostages, and generally climbing the walls. They have tried to roll and ignite the smoking patches.

Gawd Knot! Sure that ain't me you talking about


Im down to my last 1/2 butt. And I am going to try again. I want to be sucessful this time.

So send me some horror stories. maybe it will help

NeoStar

[TonTo]

Meanwhile, the smokers are planning insurrection, threatening to takes hostages, and generally climbing the walls. They have tried to roll and ignite the smoking patches.

Hey, i thought we killed everyone who knew about that.....
ah, those were the days...
although.... on that 7th day, i think we might have gone a lil far..... Bob really didn't deserve to be cremated like that and have us smoke his ashes..... cuz eric probably had WAY more nicotine in him.....

[newbie~wan]

Knot, you have an untapped writing style and ability. You should consider a career change. You and Micheal Chiew have such colorful posts.

[vass0922]

Well no horror story but a (so far) success story.

I quit smoking back in March 30 (31st? ok last day of march!) and have had one cigarette since then (believe me that day sucked!!)

Have I had trying times? OH YEAH
I still want one

For me beyond the tooth problem I also have some stomach problems, that smoking certainly doesn't help so thats another reason I dont start up again...