Smoking (Tobacco) Cessation

Overview

Mark Twain once said, "Quitting smoking is easy. I've done it a thousand times."

Quitting tobacco is difficult because all forms of it—cigarettes, cigars and spit (chewing) tobacco—contain nicotine and nicotine is the agent in tobacco that's capable of causing addiction or dependence. However, you can quit once and for all. The reasons for quitting are simple: You'll lower the chances of having a heart attack, stroke or cancer, including oral cancer. A smoke-free environment is healthier for those around you. If you're pregnant, you'll improve your chances of having a healthy baby. And, the money spent on tobacco can be used on other things.

Check out the Frequently Asked Questions and Additional Resources section below for free materials and information to help you quit using tobacco and make the transition to a healthier lifestyle.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Smoking (Tobacco) Cessation

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Oral Health Education Videos
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ADA Dental Minute

• Dangers of Spit Tobacco: Broadband/1.8MB | Dial up/317k
• Gum Disease: Broadband/753k | Dial up/322k
• Join the Great American Smoke-Out: Broadband/748k | Dial up/260k
• Smokeless Tobacco: Broadband/1.7MB | Dial up/257k
• Why Do Teeth Darken?: Broadband/744k | Dial up/257k

Public Service Announcements

• The Hazards of Smokeless Tobacco (With Cal Ripken, Jr):
  Broadband/143k | Dial up/112k

Video News Release

• Cigars: What's So Cool About Bad Breath, Stained Teeth and Oral Cancer?: Broadband/1.0MB | Dial up/212k

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More Resources
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For Patients—Direct your patients to self-help tobacco cessation tools.

• National Network of Tobacco Cessation Quitlines
  800-QUITNOW (800-784-8669) TTY 800-332-8615
  The toll-free number is a single access point to the National Network of Tobacco Cessation Quitlines. Callers can speak with a counselor to receive help with quitting smoking, informational materials and referrals to other sources.
• You Can Quit Smoking
  The You Can Quit Smoking Kit from the U.S. Surgeon General’s Office is a one-stop source for information to help smokers become tobacco-free. It contains guideline products designed specifically for consumers that are available in English, Spanish, and easy-to-read formats.
  
• Quitting Spit Tobacco
  Spit tobacco, also known as dip and chew, snuff, chewing tobacco, and smokeless tobacco, comes in two forms. But no matter what it’s called, spit tobacco is highly addictive and can harm your health. This Web site is sponsored by the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research.
• American Lung Association
  Smoking cessation support is available from the American Lung Association.
  
• You Can Quit Smoking Now!
  This Web site (Smokefree.gov), developed by the National Cancer Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health and others, provides information and professional assistance to help support the immediate and long-term needs of people who want to quit smoking. The site provides:
  • An online step-by-step cessation guide
  • A link to the national telephone quitline
  • NCI's instant messaging service
  • Publications, which may be downloaded, printed, or ordered

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Office on Smoking and Health
  1-800-CDC-INFO ( 1-800-232-4636)
  
  The CDC's Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) is the government's lead agency on smoking control. OSH funds the distribution of booklets on smoking topics such as helping a friend or family member quit smoking, the health hazards of smoking, relapse, and the effects of parental smoking on teenagers.
  
  
• National Cancer Institute
  The specially trained staff at NCI’s Cancer Information Service can provide smoking cessation counseling and answer questions (in English or Spanish). They can send free NCI materials about cancer. They also know about other resources and services. Call 800-4-CANCER (800-422-6237), to be connected with the office that serves your area. People with TTY equipment can call 800-332-8815.
  
  
• American Cancer Society
  For a free copy of the You Can Quit Smoking brochure call 800-ACS-2345 (800-227-2345). The ACS site also provides information on spit tobacco, outlines some of the health problems it can cause and provides information that can help you quit.

Literature on Tobacco Use

• Chewing tobacco: Not a risk-free alternative to cigarettes
  The Mayo Clinic says get the facts about chewing tobacco. It’s more dangerous than you think.
  
  
• Smoking and Cancer
  This National Cancer Institute site offers a wide range of information for the public, professional and researcher on quitting smoking and spit tobacco and well as tobacco-related research.
  
  
• U.S. Surgeon General
  The U.S. Surgeon General has issued numerous reports on the adverse health effects of tobacco. A complete list can be found on the Surgeon General Web site . Most recent reports are:
  • The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A report of the Surgeon General (2006)
  • The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General (2004)
  • Women and Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General (2001)
  • Reducing Tobacco Use: A Report of the Surgeon General (2000)
  • Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General (2000)

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Please note: The ADA does not provide specific answers to individual questions about fees, dental problems, conditions, diagnoses, treatments or proposed treatments, or requests for research. Information about dental referrals, complaints and a variety of dental procedures may be found here. You can also refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to common questions.