Smokers could soon be persuaded to give up by their dentists under new health plans for Bolton.

Smokers could soon be persuaded to give up by their dentists under new health plans for Bolton. Staff at the borough's NHS dental surgeries will be trained in offering support and advice to smokers when they call in for check-ups. Health experts hope the measure will enable them to reach more smokers than ever before and are confident people will welcome the extra help. Adrian Butterworth, manager of Bolton's Stop Smoking Service, said: "Dental staff are being trained in brief intervention methods which will enable them to direct patients to the right place to get the support they need to give up." "The patient group involved isn't the same as that which visits their GP, and dental visits are generally at least every 12 months, which is more frequent than most people go to see their doctor, so this is a great place to push the public health message." The training, which will mainly be given to dental nurses, will be carried out over the next two years, but it is expected the first surgeries could be advising patients within the next few months. Local NHS dentists have welcomed the move, which they agree will make a big difference to Bolton's high smoking rates. Dentist Chris Brooks, who has a surgery in Chorley New Road, said: "It's a great idea. We will obviously have to handle the issue sensitively, but it's something that we could certainly help with." "Smoking cessation advice is something that's part of the overall oral health care assessment and the focus needs to be on the whole patient, rather than just their teeth."

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