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.