Photo By Capt. Lisa Allen | U.S. Navy Lt. Misha Lockey, a dentist assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort,...... read more read more
BEAUFORT, S.C. – The thought of quitting smokeless tobacco forever might be overwhelming, but could you give it up for just 24 hours? Sign up to participate in the Great American Spit-Out (GASpO), taking place on Feb. 18, 2016, and pledge to go tobacco-free for one day. The support and resources available at Naval Hospital Beaufort (NHB) make the GASpO a great time to start your effort to quit.
There are many reasons to stop using spit (also known as smokeless) tobacco. Here are just a few:
• Smokeless tobacco IS NOT a safe alternative to smoking. It is just as addicting; containing more nicotine than cigarettes, and it has at least 28 cancer causing substances.
• Smokeless tobacco leads to serious health risks, including cancer of the mouth, tongue, throat and pancreas, gum disease, tooth decay and heart disease.1
• Your significant other will no longer think kissing you is gross.
• Brighter teeth and fresher breath.
• Improved readiness. Among many other benefits, you will be faster and have better endurance thanks to your increased lung capacity, experience less injuries and illness, and have improved night vision.
According to Ms. Ivette Moore, Health Promotion Coordinator at NHB, last year 110 patients attempted to quit tobacco by utilizing tobacco cessation workshops and individual counseling. The tobacco cessation program was established in 1998 and uses a combination of behavioral counseling, nicotine replacement therapy and medication to give tobacco users the greatest chance of success in quitting. The tobacco cessation program is available at various locations across the tri-command (NHB, Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island Branch Health Clinic and the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Dental Clinic).
The dental staff at NHB is also available to provide resources and support to the active duty members that want to quit. U.S. Navy Lt. Jacquelyn Proulx, a dentist at MCRD Parris Island shared, “I feel the best method as dentists that we can use to discourage use is to explain the disease progression to the patient and address the oral health issues that can be caused by continued use.” Not only is oral cancer a concern, but the affect it can have on a patients gingival tissues can be detrimental to their periodontal status.”
Over at the MCAS dental clinic, patients wishing to quit are provided a short tobacco cessation counseling before each treatment. U.S. Navy Lt. Misha Lockey explains “we provide them options for quitting such as replacement chew, patches, medications, and even coupons for sunflower seeds.”
The staff at NHB is committed to helping patients quit and remain tobacco free. NHB and the Branch Health and Dental Clinics have been tobacco free campuses since Sept. 16, 2010. If you would like more information about quitting please contact Ms. Moore at (843) 228-5344.
| Date Taken: | 02.17.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.17.2016 11:11 |
| Story ID: | 189034 |
| Location: | BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 277 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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