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Publication of National Clinical Guideline No. 28 Stop Smoking

20 January 2022


National Clinical Guideline No. 28 Stop Smoking

The Dental Health Foundation very much welcomes yesterday’s publication of the National Clinical Guideline No. 28 Stop Smoking, which will assist Health Care Professionals (HCP’s), including dentists, in providing useful advice to support adults quit smoking and to explain the benefits in stopping smoking.

An important message for HCP’s to give to patients is that it is never too late to quit smoking, that the best step a smoker can take to improve their health is to stop smoking, and the benefits are immediate.

Quitting smoking reduces the risk of 15 types of cancer, including mouth head and neck cancer. 5 to 10 years after quitting Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, and voice box (larynx) is cut in half, (smoking is one of the main risk factors for mouth head and neck cancer 

  • Only 20 minutes after quitting, blood pressure and heart rate fall.
  • After 8 hours, blood oxygen increases.
  • In 48 hours, sense of smell and taste improves.
  • 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
  • 1 to 2 years after quitting Your risk of heart attack drops dramatically.

Many people know about the dangers of smoking, but find it difficult to stop. The guidelines state thatin Ireland most people who smoke want to quit: each year approximately 500,000 attempt stopping and 150,000 are successful’. It also states that a low proportion of smokers who have attempted to quit due to health concerns have discussed it with a health professional and that most smokers expect health care professionals to raise the topic of smoking and are surprised when they do not.

21% discussed with Dentist

30% discussed with Hospital Doctor

40% discussed with GP

The guidelines will improve and increase the discussions between these health care professionals and their patients, and empower them to raise the topic with patients, ask about smoking, offer advice and help increase the chance of someone quitting and to quit for good.

A referral form has been developed for health professionals who may wish to make referrals to ‘Quit’ the free HSE stop smoking service, which can be downloaded HERE

Additionally, of concern, for the first time in 25 years, rates of smoking among teenage boys in Ireland are increasing, according to research published in 2021, ‘Increased Smoking and E-cigarette use among Irish Teenagers: A new threat to Tobacco Free Ireland 2025’, Sunday et al 2021 (The study was led by Professor Luke Clancy, Director General of the TobaccoFree Research Institute Ireland).

The study shows that rates of vaping among teenagers have risen in the last four years and that teenagers who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke. The study also shows that rates of vaping among teenagers have risen in the last four years and that teenagers who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke. This is a worrying development which further highlights the importance of the role of health care professionals in smoking prevention and helping support people to quit smoking, which in turn may help to de-normalise smoking for young people.

For those who want to ‘Quit’, there is also lots of help and support available from www.quit.ie 

Please ask your doctor, dentist or pharmacist for advice also.