Low-level laser therapy for smoking cessation: Dental professionals’ role
Breaking free from nicotine
Only about 7.5% of smokers manage to quit each year, according to the CDC.1 For many, it feels like an endless cycle of patches, gum, and medications, only to find themselves lighting up again weeks or months later. The hold that nicotine has on some people is real, both physically and emotionally.
There’s an intriguing alternative that caught our attention: cold laser therapy, or low-level laser therapy (LLLT). It's noninvasive, painless, and does not involve the use of nicotine or medications. Recent research suggests it could be a game changer for people trying to kick the habit because it targets specific pressure points linked to addiction.2-7
How does LLLT work?
Think of cold laser therapy as acupuncture's high-tech cousin. The laser operates at a specific wavelength (405 to 904 nanometers) that stimulates the body's natural feel-good chemicals—dopamine and serotonin. When someone is trying to quit smoking, their brain's reward center goes haywire from the lack of nicotine.
By targeting five key points—Shen Men and sympathetic in the ear, and the kidney, liver, and lung—the laser helps ease brutal withdrawal symptoms and cravings.2-7 Unlike nicotine patches or gum, which keep feeding an addiction, cold laser therapy aims to break the cycle completely.
What the research about LLLT shows
We dug into the latest studies on cold laser therapy for smoking cessation, and the results are encouraging. Here's what we found.
In one study comparing laser therapy to counseling, some people got just laser therapy, others had only counseling, and a third group tried both.4 All groups cut their smoking by about half, but the combination approach worked best long-term.
Another study followed 175 daily smokers through seven sessions over three weeks:5
- 149 people quit completely
- 21 got down to just one to two cigarettes per day
- Five reduced their smoking despite dealing with stress
- Only 12 needed a touch-up session after three months
A personal success story
I (author Lisa Huitron) used to chain-smoke two packs a day. On November 16, 2005, I tried a single hour-long LLLT session and that was it! I have not touched a cigarette since. The treatment was completely painless, and afterward I felt like I was floating.
The weird thing was, I never got the usual withdrawal symptoms or cravings. Within weeks I could actually taste food again and smell things I hadn't noticed in years. Now, almost 20 years later, I'm still smoke-free, thanks to that one laser treatment.
The LLLT research points to some clear takeaways:
- Cold laser therapy can help, especially when combined with counseling.3,4
- A person needs to be ready to quit for the therapy to work best.2,4
- Having support makes a big difference, particularly when stress sets in.5
What LLLT means for dental professionals
As dentists and hygienists, we’re often the first to spot the damage smoking does to our patients' health. Adding LLLT to our practice could be huge. It’s an easy and painless way to help patients quit without adding more nicotine to their systems. We could actually help them break free from addiction while improving their overall health.
As our field keeps evolving, we need to evolve with it. We believe cold laser therapy could be a crucial tool in helping people quit smoking. While quitting isn't easy, sometimes all it takes is trying something new—like a simple beam of light—to make it stick.
References
- Cornelius ME, Wang TW, Jamal A, et al. State-specific prevalence of adult tobacco product use and cigarette smoking cessation behaviors, United States, 2018–2019. Preventing Chronic Disease. November 16, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd20.230132
- He D, Medbø JI, Høstmark AT. Effect of acupuncture on smoking cessation or reduction: an 8-month and 5-year follow-up study. Prev Med. 2001;33(5):364–372. https://doi.org/10.1006/pmed.2001.0901
- Ho LF, Ho WK, Wong LL et al. Acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure for smoking cessation and its effects on tobacco dependence and smoking behavior among Hong Kong smokers: A multicenter pilot clinical study - chinese medicine. BioMed Central. August 9, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-022-00649-w
- Velangi CS, Yavagal PC, Nagesh L. Role of auricular laser acupuncture and psychological counseling in reducing nicotine dependence due to smoking: a randomized controlled trial. Indian J Pub Health. 2021;65(3):243-249. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34558485/
- Lim RCH. Painless laser acupuncture for smoking cessation. Med Acupuncture. 2018;30(3):159-162. https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2018.1295
- Wang JH, van Haselen R, Wang M, et al. Acupuncture for smoking cessation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 24 randomized controlled trials. Tob Ind Dis. 2019;17(6):48. https://doi.org/10.18332/tid/109195
- Yavagal PC, Nagesh L. Efficacy of laser auricular acupuncture for smoking cessation: a randomized controlled trial. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal. June 21, 2021. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.2021.21.02.017
