How to help Patients to quit tobacco smoking?

How can you help your patients quit smoking?

smoking cessation is a public health priority for governments around the world. There are excellent online resources available for the same.

Smoking cessation is an integral part of management of dental patients and it is the responsibility of health professionals to discuss this with their patients.

There are various methods for helping patients to quit smoking.

1. ASK - ask the patient about the smoking status.

2. ADVICE- advice the smokers of the association between oral diseases and smoking and also not to be judgemental at the same time.

3. ASSESS- assess the patient's interest to quit smoking.

4. ASSIST- assist the patient to quit smoking.

5. ARRANGE- arrange follow-up visits.

ie act on patients response you can prescribe, monitor or refer.

There are a few methods of smoking cessation given in the 13th edition of carranza which includes

1. will power alone - 3% of smokers manage to quit after 12 months, it's probably the least effective method.

2. Self help materials- motivation

3. Brief advice intervention by the dentist or a physician can increase the rate of quitting by 40- 90 %

4. Nicotine replacement therapy NRT - can increase the rate of quitting by 50 to 70% in 2 months.

Nicotine replacement therapy helps with the cravings and withdrawal symptoms when the person quits smoking.

Although nicotine is present, NRT does not contain toxic products such as tar and carbon monoxide which are usually found in cigarette

5. Varenicline

- it is a nicotine receptor partial agonist and aims to reduce both withdrawal symptoms and also reduces the pleasure people experience while smoking. It can increase the rate of quitting by 100% in 12 months

6. Bupropion-

It can increase the rate of quitting by 52 to to 80% but there are potential drug interactions and unwanted effects

7.Other methods are like combinations which can include intensive counselling, motivation, cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnosis and acupuncture or e -cigarettes

We will write about e-cigarette and vaping in our next Blog.