As you begin the process of to quit smoking, change your habits – those things that make you want a cigarette more than anything. If you used to have a cigarette with your cup of coffee, switch to tea. Or, just take your coffee to a new spot – if you used to sit on the back porch, try the kitchen table instead. Switching up the routine will suppress those trigger switches that make you reach for a smoke without thinking. If the taste of that cup of coffee (or beer… or a mixed drink…) makes you feel like having a smoke to go along with it, try out our antioxidant-rich AO ProVantage BLAST product to get the trigger taste out of your mouth after you’ve enjoyed your beverage (and counteract the free radicals raised by nicotine and other noxious substances). AO Pro Vantage BLAST can keep halitosis at bay and thus may minimize your desire to smoke – it’s a little harder to want to leave an ashtray taste in a minty-fresh mouth.
When you stop smoking, nicotine withdrawal may give you headaches, affect your mood, or sap your energy. The craving for “just one drag” is tough. Nicotine replacement therapy can curb these urges. Studies show that nicotine gum, lozenges, and patches improve your chances of success when you’re also in a quit-smoking program.
If all else fails, try a pill or a patch. There are a range of products on the market that aim to help you quit by satisfying the chemical cravings for nicotine or by physically stopping the brain chemistry that makes you want them in the first place. Talk to your doctor to decide what over-the-counter or prescription medication best fits your personality, your addiction, and your needs.
