Dental Implant Surgeons Urge Costa Mesa Residents to Quit Smoking with 13 Top Tips, PART 3

This five-part article series provides smokers and tobacco users with 13 tips for kicking the habit permanently through social, psychological and physical assistance.

Welcome to the third installment of this five-part article series on the top tips for successfully kicking a smoking habit. Previously, in Part 2, we spoke to some dental implant surgeons in Costa Mesa about their advice to those who are trying to quit smoking and the following important tips were explained:

Quit Smoking Tip # 3: Talk to your doctor about prescription medication to aid in the cessation process.

Quit Smoking Tip # 4: Stock up on nicotine gum, patches or lozenges as these will help to soothe the withdrawal symptoms in the days and weeks following quitting.

Quit Smoking Tip # 5: Gather the support of friends, family and co-workers. You should also consider joining a support group where you will find all the empathy and understanding you need to help you in the fight against your smoking addiction.

Let’s now shift our attention to the undoing of the lifestyle triggers that are often the downfall of smokers trying to kick the habit…

Quit Smoking Tip # 6: Find a Way to Deal with Stress

“Stress is a major downfall for people trying to quit, because it is one of the biggest triggers for picking up a cigarette,” says a dental implant surgeon in Costa Mesa. “Moments of stress and aggravated situations often put an ex-smoker’s mettle to the test, because it can become overwhelmingly tempting to just give up and buy a box of smokes. After all, it’s not YOUR fault you were so stressed… you NEEDED a cigarette to feel better. At the end of the day, a part of your journey to overcoming your addiction is learning how to cope with stress without turning to cigarettes for respite.”

Costa Mesa residents in the process of quitting smoking should come up with a list of stress busters that they can turn to when faced with such situations, such as acupuncture, yoga, massages or even just relaxing music. Instead of cigarettes, force yourself to get into your car, drive down to the beach and go for a walk. The craving will subside and you will feel so much better for having had a little exercise and some beautiful fresh sea air.

Quit Smoking Tip # 7: Avoid Traditional Triggers, Such as Alcohol

What are the things that most make you want to have a cigarette? Is it that post-work beer or glass of wine? Is it when you go down to your favorite pub and hang out with friends? Or is it in the morning, when you sit down with your first cup of coffee?

Identify what situations are most conducive to cigarette cravings and, while you are in the beginning stages of trying to quit, avoid those situations. Cut down on drinking alcohol or coffee, and try to avoid your regular hangout spots – bars and coffee shops - because they will have negative associations and triggers attached.

“The worst you’ll deal with is a little anxiety at “missing out,” but you may be too vulnerable in the beginning to be surrounded by all that temptation, especially if the people you hang out with also smoke,” warns a Costa Mesa dentist. “Focus on improving your whole body health during this time, because it will take you away from the old contexts in which you were a smoker. Also, get busy – find things to do during the occasions you would normally be lighting up, such as after a meal.”

Quit Smoking Tip # 8: Purge Your House of Temptation

It’s day # 1, you’ve resolved to quit smoking and now it’s time to clean house! Go through every room of your house, making sure to collect together all of your smoking paraphernalia and throw it away ceremoniously!

“Lighters, ashtrays, boxes of cigarettes… get rid of them completely,” advise dental implant surgeons in Costa Mesa. “And once the solid evidence has been disposed of, give your house a thorough clean to eliminate any residual evidence of smoking, such as washing clothes that might smell of smoke and cleaning the upholstery, carpets and drapes.”

This might seem like a massive undertaking, but it’s also a very cathartic and therapeutic experience that’s symbolic of a whole-life change. You’re eliminating all evidence of ever having been a smoker and not having even a whiff of smoke as a reminder in your life will ensure a greater chance of quitting success.

Stay Tuned for Part 4

To read more tips and advice from Costa Mesa dental implant surgeons on how to quit smoking, stay tuned for the fourth installment of this five-part article series.

Dental Implant Surgeons Urge Newport Beach Residents to Quit Smoking with 13 Top Tips, PART 2

This five-part article series provides smokers and tobacco users with 13 tips for kicking the habit permanently through social, psychological and physical assistance.

Welcome to the second installment of this five-part article series on the top tips for successfully kicking a smoking habit. Previously, in Part 1, we spoke to some dental implant surgeons in Newport Beach about their recommendations to those brave souls who are taking their health into their own hands by quitting and the first two important tips were explained:

Quit Smoking Tip # 1: Define your reasons for stopping and don’t just say, “to better my health.” Think of a more personal reason that could act as your mainstay when you’re trying to ride the waves of withdrawals.

Quit Smoking Tip # 2: Don’t suddenly stop or go “Cold Turkey.” The majority of smokers are never successful doing this. Rather cut down according to a strict schedule defined by you and then, when you’re down to only a few cigarettes a day, quit.

But, before you do… you have to ensure that you have the right support in place and we shall now be exploring the various safety blankets you should establish for yourself in the days and weeks following your cessation.

There are three “safety blankets” you can arrange for yourself prior to quitting smoking and these come in the form of (1) prescription cessation medication, (2) nicotine replacement therapy and (3) help from friends, family and support groups. Together, these modes of assistance can help you successfully and permanently kick the habit.

Let’s explore these various pillars of support…

Quit Smoking Tip # 3: Prescription Cessation Medication

A number of medications have been developed to help people quit smoking and they do this by introducing chemicals into the brain that ease the nicotine withdrawal symptoms, control cravings and even make smoking less enjoyable. Speak to your doctor about these medications, because they could provide you with the physical assistance you need.

“It’s important to note that while there are medications available to help people quit smoking, they don’t necessarily address the habit itself,” explains a dental implant surgeon in Newport Beach. “You will need to learn to undo all the habits, routines and triggers you’ve developed as a smoker yourself. The medication can only help with the physical addiction; the psychological addiction is another issue entirely.”

We will provide tips for this later on in the series.

Quit Smoking Tip # 4: Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Any Newport Beach resident who has tried to quit smoking (and their partner) will be well acquainted with the physical withdrawals that play out in the first few days: irritation, depression, restlessness and wave after wave of cravings. What can help to address or reduce these withdrawals is nicotine gum, patches or lozenges, so make sure you stock up and are well prepared when you do quit!

Quit Smoking Tip # 5: Gather Social Support

Oftentimes, smokers planning to quit don’t want to tell friends and family because it puts that added pressure on you to be successful. Also, it can be embarrassing when, time after time, you end up relapsing. However, a fundamental part of successfully quitting smoking is having the support of friends and family.

“We often recommend support groups to patients who express the desire to stop smoking,” says one Newport Beach dentist. “You can never underestimate the value of social support to those who are trying to kick a nasty habit and not everyone can get this support at home. Support groups are fantastic in that they provide the specific psychological tools and an empathetic, understanding environment in which people can unravel their addiction.”

Stay Tuned for Part 3

To read more tips and advice from Newport Beach dental implant surgeons on how to quit smoking, stay tuned for the third installment of this five-part article series.

Dental Implant Surgeons Urge Orange County Residents to Quit Smoking with 13 Top Tips, PART 1

This five-part article series provides smokers and tobacco users with 13 tips for kicking the habit permanently through social, psychological and physical assistance.

Mark Twain was famously quoted as having said: "Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I've done it thousands of times."

It’s true for smokers all over Orange County, the United States and in fact the world: putting down that box of cigarettes and making the public announcement that you intend to quit is the easy part. It’s the days and weeks and months that follow that make this essential step towards better general and oral health extremely difficult and a challenge that the vast majority of smokers fail to overcome. And yet, quitting smoking is absolutely fundamental if you are to enjoy full health and a long life.

Dental implant surgeons may not seem like the obvious choice for Orange County residents to turn to for smoking cessation advice. But, when you consider that they are trained doctors and that they routinely repair the damage done by smoking, it’s understandable why these medical healthcare professionals might have some very useful advice under their sleeves.

And so, we shall be exploring the top 13 tips these highly qualified Orange County dentists have for those who are preparing to embark upon a journey to better health by kicking the habit! Let’s begin…

Quit Smoking Tip # 1: Define Your Reasons for Quitting

If it were easy to quit, most people would forever relinquish the habit for the reason that it could potentially kill you. Unfortunately, it’s not easy and you need to become better acquainted with the precise reasons you want to quit smoking so that you can recite these as a mantra to yourself when you’re in the clutches of withdrawal.

“Write down the short, medium and long-term reasons you want to quit smoking and put these reasons up somewhere you can see them regularly,” advises a dental implant surgeon in Orange County. “Better health in the long term is a good reason, but it doesn’t have the same kind of urgency that other short term goals have, such as healthier teeth, more energy and less harm to your children, for example.”

So, think long and hard about the things you want the most from quitting smoking. Find that one powerful reason that will help to guide you through the withdrawals and sustain your efforts. Your reason could be any one of the following:

• I no longer want to expose my children to my second hand smoke.

• I want to protect my teeth and my smile.

• I want to be able to breathe properly without wheezing or coughing.

• I don’t want to smell like an ashtray anymore. It’s making me feel self-conscious around other people.

• I want to stop spending money on cigarettes.

Quit Smoking Tip # 2: Don’t Suddenly Stop

For the vast majority of smokers, going cold turkey only ever ends up in failure. You’ve got to secure some kind of therapeutic or even medical assistance to aid you in your journey to better health or you may very well end up relapsing. This is especially the case for dedicated, box-or-more-a-day smokers.

“You may think you have the mental strength to endure the psychological withdrawals, but nicotine is physically addictive and your brain will be sending you craving signals that you might not be able to resist,” warns an Orange County dentist. “It’s best to establish a series of goals over a course of weeks or months that will lessen your exposure to nicotine. Cut down on the number of cigarettes you smoke per day every week or month and be strict about your new limits. Once you’ve cut down considerably, you can then try and quit altogether.”

But, before you do… you have to ensure that you have the right support in place and to find out more about this, stay tuned for Part 2, coming next week!

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To read more tips and advice from Orange County dental implant surgeons on how to quit smoking, stay tuned for the second installment of this five-part article series.

Newport Beach Dentistry News: How Celebrities Achieve Perfect Smiles with Porcelain Veneers

This article explains what porcelain veneers are and the many benefits this cosmetic treatment affords patients in terms of smile appearance and longevity.

Over the decades, different innovations have been introduced into the field of cosmetic dentistry, each with the promise of being able to help you achieve a better smile, not only in terms of aesthetics, but also with regards to oral health. While not necessarily new, one innovation in dental treatment has managed to captivate the attention of many Newport Beach residents, as well as some of the country’s rich and famous: dental veneers.

The popularity of porcelain veneers in Newport Beach can be attributed to an increasing consciousness of the public of appearance and in particular, of smile beauty. So, what are veneers and what are the benefits of this fantastic cosmetic treatment?

What are Porcelain Veneers?

Also called dental veneers, porcelain veneers are made from wafer-thin shells of a composite ceramic and glass material. The color is very similar to that of natural dental enamel and can be specially created to match the individual’s smile. Veneers are bonded to the outer surface of a tooth or teeth in order to achieve a very natural look. They are modified in terms of size, color, and length to make it similar to your natural set of teeth. While porcelain is the most common material used, veneers can also be made from resin. However, porcelain is a preferred material because it looks absolutely stunning and has a better ability to resist staining.

This image demonstrates the difference a complete set of upper porcelain veneers has made to this patient’s appearance. The bottom teeth, which are heavily worn and eroded, are yet to be worked on.

Image source: Wikimedia commons

Are Porcelain Veneers for Me?

There are several reasons why you might want to consider getting porcelain veneers. More often than not, most Newport Beach residents choose porcelain veneers in order to improve the appearance of their smiles. If your teeth have become discolored or if they appear too small or misshapen, porcelain veneers can help make your smile really "pop" while still appearing totally natural.

Porcelain veneers are also used to repair chipped or broken teeth, whether they are the result of a sports accident, teeth grinding, or other causes. People that have irregularly shaped teeth, teeth with large gaps between them, or excessive gingival tissue are great candidates for veneers.

“Porcelain veneers are exceptionally versatile in the cosmetic and even structural imperfections they can successfully address,” explains a Newport Beach cosmetic dentist. “And the benefits are not only aesthetic, but also functional. Teeth that have been repaired with veneers are likely to last longer, too.”

Famous pop star, Miley Cyrus, is one celebrity who underwent a smile makeover using porcelain veneers.

Image source: Wikimedia commons

The Benefits of Porcelain Veneers

Among others, porcelain veneers are a preferred treatment of many cosmetic dentists in Newport Beach because they truly mimic the natural appearance of the teeth, making it almost impossible for other people to tell what treatment a patient has have done. Veneers promote better oral health through the repair and reinforcement of damaged teeth and they are also resistant to staining.

Lastly, according to many cosmetic dentists who offer Newport Beach patients dental veneers, they are an excellent choice because they are a conservative approach towards changing the way your smile looks in the absence of requiring extensive surgery.