A third of smokers (37%) notice the negative affect smoking can have on their appearance.
The survey, commissioned by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) found that 36% of UK smokers say smoking has discoloured their teeth and 71% are concerned with the negative effect smoking has on their oral health.
The results have come about to coincide with calls to quit smoking on Wednesday 9 March 2016, or ‘No Smoking Day’ the BHF is calling it.
‘By quitting smoking you can stop or even reverse the effects on your oral health,’ Dr Mike Knapton, BHF associate medical director, said.
‘We’re asking smokers to mark Wednesday 9 March on their calendars to take the first step towards a smoke-free life.’
Negative affects of smoking
The nicotine and tar found in cigarettes causes a yellow staining of the teeth, which will get worse over time.
The smoke caused by cigarettes can also interfere with the chemistry of the mouth, which could help in the accumulation of plaque on the teeth, potentially leading to gum disease.
To find out more about No Smoking Day, visit nosmokingday.org.uk to order a free No Smoking Day organiser pack, and join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #NoSmokingDay.
