A former smoker who regained her lost teeth due to gum disease is now encouraging others to quit smoking.
Sarah Howes, a resident of south Oxfordshire in her 60s, used to smoke 60 cigarettes a day, resulting in the loss of most of her upper teeth.
She recommends Oxfordshire County Council’s Stop for Life Oxon services for those looking to quit smoking.
The council reported that it has already assisted thousands of people across the county with various replacement therapies.
Ms. Howes started smoking in her teens, describing it as a habit that went hand-in-hand with drinking and dancing during her youth.
Her initial motivation to cut down on smoking was to improve her fitness, but she noticed she would get “a bit wheezy” during aerobic classes and gym sessions in her 40s.
“The main reason I quit was because I lost most of my top teeth due to gum disease,” she said. She explained that her teeth would fall out when she bit into food, even something as soft as a roll.
Her dentist informed her that her mouth had been deprived of oxygen and smoking was a significant contributing factor.
After unsuccessful attempts with dentures, Ms. Howes opted for dental implants. However, her dental surgeon insisted that she completely quit smoking before performing the surgery.
Ms. Howes utilized multiple therapies and now regularly attends the gym two to three times a week and enjoys hiking with friends.
She expressed that she would have definitely used the local Oxfordshire services if they had been available to her and urges anyone trying to quit smoking to seek similar help.
Ansaf Azhar, the director for public health at the council, highlighted that the Stop for Life Oxon service offers free support, proven to help people quit smoking in Oxfordshire.
The support includes one-on-one coaching, a free rechargeable vape kit, and nicotine replacement therapy for up to 12 weeks.