Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-07-07, Page 12r> ► » n f vz >/ ij v * HpawiSW :imt '" i T' '■. f Tyy' .' i , v •-■ 1 _ _ . . - ________ ________ PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 1999. Smoking cessation brings body, mouth health When you think about quitting smoking, most people consider the health benefits, but have you ever considered the oral health benefits? Smoking is directly related to a very common condition called periodonitis (gum disease). Over the past 40 years, 27 scientific studies have indicated that smokers have more severe gum disease than non-smokers. Quitting smoking decreases both the development of gum disease and reduces the rate of Smoke-free restaurants realize jump in business Having a smoke-free restaurant contributes to an increase in business, according to a recent survey by the Huron County Health Unit. Owners and managers of smoke- free restaurants can breathe easy - eliminating smoking may improve their competitiveness. Having a smoke-free restaurant may keep the bucks rolling in. According to the survey, restaurants with more than 75 per cent smoke-free seating are 1.6 times more likely to report an increase in business than restaurants with less smoke-free seating. Restaurants that are smoke-free or have completely enclosed smoking areas are more than three times more likely to report an increase in business. “We hope that restaurant owners and managers will use this information to improve their business and that more Huron County restaurants will go smoke- free,” said Dr. Beth Henning, medical officer of health. “Our results show that their business is likely to improve if they go smoke- free.” For a copy of the results please contact the Huron County Health Unit at 482-3416. ENER(3|UIDE Central air conditioners Did you know? (NC)—Central air conditioners use energy to pump heat out of buildings, distribute cool air within buildings, and remove moisture from buildings. Central air conditioners are rated according to their seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). SEER indicates the relative amount of energy needed to provide a specific cooling output. Many older systems have SEER ratings of 6.0 or less. The average SEER for units sold today is between 10.0 and 11.0. The higher the SEER the more energy­ efficient the unit. "When you are shopping for a central air conditioner, look for a SEER rating of 12.0 or higher. The indoor coil in your air conditioner acts as a magnet for dust because it is constantly dampened during the cooling season. Dirt buildup on the indoor coil is the single most common cause of poor efficiency. In an average air-conditioned home, air conditioning consumes more than 2,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, pumping about 3,500 pounds (1,700 kg) of carbon dioxide and 31 pounds (15 1/4 kg) of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere. - News Canada bone and tooth loss. When you have severe gum disease, you can lose all of your teeth and sometimes even bone and gum tissue. If you smoke, you are twice as likely to get gum disease but if you quit now symptoms of gum disease and other mouth conditions will improve or even disappear within months. Recently, it has been proven that certain types of gum disease can cause stroke, heart conditions and premature, low-weight births. And that's where having a healthy (smoke-free) mouth becomes even more important. When your mouth is healthy, your body is healthy. But where can you go for advice on how to quit smoking? Most dentists are taught how to give advice to their patients about Get Your Message AROUND THE WORLD IMMEDIATELY If you have important papers that need to go somewhere FAST... use the CITIZEN'S FAX MACHINE! Our Fax machine can contact any other Fax machine, In the world, instantly. We offer this service for a cost of $4.00 per printed sheet for the first one and $1.00 per additional sheet. (And the long distance charges are free In North America) . Our Fax Number, is also your number, so use it to receive your messages at $1.00 per sheet. HERE ARE OUR FAX NUMBERS . . . BLYTH 523-9140 BRUSSELS 887-9021 WE CAN RECEIVE 24 HRS. PER DAY! quitting smoking. So, if you need help to quit smoking you can ask your dentist for advice. Depending on the amount of training they have had and the recourses available to them, your dentist can be.very valuable to you in your efforts to quit smoking. Studies of professional smoking cessation programs show that dental counseling is very effective in helping tobacco users reduce and quit smoking. Dentists generally use a five-step process when devising a plan for their patients who are trying to quit using tobacco. The Dentists' Five A's of Quitting Smoking: • The dentist first ASKS the patient about tobacco use and expresses concern about the use of tobacco products; • The dentist will then ASSESS AND ADVISE the patient that they should try to stop tobacco use. If the patient expresses interest in further discussion, the dentist then proceeds to the next step; • The dentist ASSISTS the patient in the cessation process. This can range from a simple referral of organizations who may better assist the patient, to the distribution of literature or in­ office counseling and recommendation of cessation products; • The dentist then can ARRANGE for follow-up of the patient's condition and progress through contact and encouragement. The last two phases of intervention will depend on the dentist’s knowledge, training and expertise in smoking cessation techniques. In the past few years, numerous regional health organizations and other dental organizations have instituted policies on quitting smoking because it has become increasingly important to improve not only one's physical health but one's oral health. For information and advice on how to quit smoking, please contact your dentist. The Ontario Dental Association is the voluntary professional organization which supports more than 5,000 member dentists in the provision of exemplary oral health services and promotes the attainment of optimal health of the people of Ontario.