Over 100 Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force dental centres from the Defence Dental Services (DDS) participated in events for No Smoking Day (NSD) 2011 across the UK and as far afield as Germany and Cyprus.

DDS clinicians are in a unique position to positively influence smoking behaviour as each Serviceperson is required to have a Periodic Dental Inspection. This provides the chance for an intervention and appropriate referral to a smoking cessation clinic.

Military participation in NSD enabled Defence healthcare professionals to make a coordinated effort to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and the potential benefits of quitting. In preparation for the event each dental centre received an official NSD pack containing leaflets, balloons, posters, pens and branded t-shirts. Additional health promotion resources could be ordered on request or accessed online. Many dental centres produced their own materials for the event, including one team who constructed a giant 5 foot long cigarette as part of their display.

With a patient base of almost 200,000 Servicemen and women and a current smoking incidence of 28%, reducing the level of smoking in the military population is a priority. A high tempo, high pressure cycle of training, deploying and recovering from overseas operations, means smoking is common and habits are especially difficult to break.

'For the DDS, NSD is a successful oral health promotion event that raises awareness across thousands of patients,' said Squadron Leader Mark Dermont. 'It is an event that can influence existing smokers and also new recruits at vital life transition points who are yet to take up smoking.'