Morning to you all!
I volunteered for this slot, not out of duty (although that's a good reason), but out of the need to share a bit of my story. I'm guessing that there are still a few smokers (and some having a rough time quitting) that have not found the one big concept that can carry them past the stray cigarette, the stressful day, the event that must have a cigarette attached. I might be able to help there. Follow me over the lung cookie for one more good reason to quit smoking forever.
GUS (Gave Up Smoking) is a self-sustaining community support diary for Kossacks in the midst of quitting smoking. Any supportive comments, suggestions or positive distractions are appreciated. If you are quitting or thinking of quitting, or have already quit and want to support others in their efforts, please -- join us!
You can also click the GUS tag to view all diary posts or access the GUS Libraryat dKosopedia for a great list of stop-smoking links and helpful information about quitting. Check it out!
This Thursday I had two more teeth extracted. That makes four. The reasons are a bit of a mixed bag, and obviously it would be impossible to point to one thing, but smoking for 34 years certainly didn't help. Smoking effects many parts of the body, as we all know, but many of us forget what it can do to the teeth.
First - let's just admit that if you smoke, you probably have a less that perfect oral health regime. For me at least, smoking relates to my issues with low self-esteem. Why bother taking care of my teeth when I can barely take care of anything?
Second - smoking lowers immune function: tissue in the mouth will not be able to fight gum disease, and periodontal disease, beside depositing plaque and receding the gum line, eats away at bone. Bone loss leads to loose teeth.
nota bene:
Periodontitis - Untreated gingivitis may lead to this next stage of gum disease. With many levels of periodontitis, the common outcome is chronic inflammatory response, a condition when the body breaks down the bone and tissue in the infected area of the mouth, ultimately resulting in tooth and bone loss.
: Periodontitis and Heart Health - big links between the two - read here about it.
: Smokers are 6X more likely to develop gum disease than non-smokers - linky
: If you smoke, your breath reeks. Really.
I had already lost two teeth in the years before. Because I am too poor to have high-quality dental work done, and because I have been a smoker, I knew that this was going to be the outcome. I haven't been comfortable smiling for a long while. I had found a way to slightly part my lips at the same time I raised the corners of my mouth that looked like a smile, but was really a desperate way to show approval without exposing a mouth of gaps.
After I stopped smoking in October, I scheduled a series of appointments at the University dental school. Got a decent price, full mouth X-rays, consultation, hard-core cleaning, the two extractions, a flipper for temporary use, and in January I'll get a more serious partial (do I have to say it?) denture. Aggg. Never did I really imagine that I would wear a *denture*.
But today I am smiling - a full mouth, relaxed smile. I finally have 'teeth' where yesterday I had holes. And I stopped smoking two months ago tomorrow.
So - what's going on with your oral health?
GUS 1.5, the next scheduled group quit date, is December 15. At this point, we have five Kossacks on board, so let's hear it for them....... Woo-hoo!!!
coloradomomma
hulibow
indyada
MillieNeon
Svark Svemes
This is a great start, and there is room for many more! If you are thinking of quitting, this is your chance. You have just over a week to get prepared, get studied up and make a real go of it. You are of course invited to check in with your fellow GUSsacks and maybe even do a diary or two.
December 15th is the six-month anniversary of the start of GUS and falls on a Tuesday. If you feel better quitting on a weekend, you can move your quit date forward or put it off until the next weekend. You cannot give yourself and your family a better Holiday present than to quit the smokes once and for all!
Current members of the GUS team:
(Please post a comment in the butt can if you would like your name added to the GUS Buddy List)
1BQ, 3rdGenFeminist, Abra Crabcakeya, addisnana, AfroPonix, ambeeeant, amk for obama, American in Kathmandu, andsarahtoo, Anne933, aoeu, arcadesproject, Archie2227, ArthurWolf (in memoriam), assyrian64, awkawk, bamablue, barnowl, bdizz, bgblcklab1, Bike Crash, BirderWitch, bleeding heart, blue husky, Blue Intrigue, bluestatedem84, BoiseBlue, Brahman Colorado, breedlovinit, BrowniesAreGood, bsmechanic, burrow owl, Cen Den, Chocolate Chris, ChurchofBruce, Colorado is the Shiznit, coppercelt, dadanation, dangoch, demkat620, Dexter, DiegoUK, Dingodude, donnamarie, DRo, droogie6655321, duckhunter, EdgedInBlue, ericlewis0, Everest42, Fhamme, Fineena, fishhawk, Flea, flumptytail, FrugalGranny, Garrett, gooners, greylox, gchaucer2, Geiiga, grndrush, hideinplainsight, High Tide, Im a frayed knot,Indexer, indyada, Interceptor7, inventor, itsbenj, Jahiz, JamesEB, jbou, Jeffersonian Democrat, john07801, jmadlc55, johngoes, Jyrix, jvolvo's Mom, jwinIL14, kai99, kailuacaton, Kelly of PA, kestrel9000, khloemi, Khun David, Kitsap River, Ksholl, labwitchy, Lady Kestrel, ladypockt, langerdang, LarsThorwald, last starfighter, Laurie Gator, Lipstick Liberal, litoralis, lmdonovan, luvsathoroughbred, maggiemay, magicsister, marknspokane, mdemploi, michael1104, Mikeguyver, MillieNeon, Minerva1157, MinervainNH, Missys Brother, mskitty, nannyboz, ncsuLAN, Nick Zouroudis, notgivingup, operculum,one pissed off democrat, Ordvefa, OverTheEdge, paige, PaintyKat, paradox, parryander, Pennsylvanian, phrogge prince, Positronicus, post rational, psycho liberal, PvtJarHead, red mittens, revelwoodie, Rex Manning, rickeagle, rkex, roadlion, rickeagle rosebuddear, Rudini, Safina, SallyCat, Sark Svemes, Scrapyard Ape, seenaymah, sfbob, sgary, Shahryar, sheddhead, shmuelman, slowbutsure, smartcookienyc, smeesq, snorwich, sofia, soonergrunt, spmozart, SpotTheCat, Tay, theatre goon, triciawyse, trueblueliberal, Turn VABlue, Turtle Bay, uc booker, Unduna, Unforgiven, Vacationland, webranding, weelzup, Wes Opinion, willy mugobeer, Wood Dragon, wolfie1818, x
So you've had some experience with the effects of smoking, and want to write a GUS diary or host an open thread? Please sign up in the Butt Can (Tip Jar), and be sure to say what day and time works for you (AM, PM, late-night, early-bird).
Our lovely and talented diarists appear below, in bold. As you can see, there are plenty of open diary spots for the taking. So go for it, sign up - it's a lot of fun and a great way to support your fellow ex-smokers and soon-to-be-ex-smokers!
Sat AM: Moi!
Sat PM: open!!
Sun AM: MillieNeon!
Sun PM: last starfighter!
Mon AM: open!!!!!
Mon PM: bsmechanic! (MNF Open Thread)
Tue AM: FrugalGranny!
Tue PM: open!!!!!!!!!!
Wed AM: open!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wed PM: open!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thu AM: open!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thu PM: open!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!