The strangest small ad ever

Cigarettes and the dentistI’ve been running through the photos on my cameraphone this evening and as well as an exciting shot of a Virgin Media van, I found this classic. It’s a small ad – I spotted it in a newsagent’s window in West Drayton the other day:

‘No cigarettes before the Dentist! If this means anything to you, PLEASE call…’

(Full size version here.)

What on earth is that all about? I was half-tempted to call the number, but commonsense prevailed and I haven’t dared.

It doesn’t have much to do with copywriting I know, but did get me scratching my head…

Any suggestions?

2 responses to “The strangest small ad ever”

  1. theredrocket says:

    I like the fact that the ‘PLEASE’ is in caps – pure desperation ringing in their voice.

    Surely it’s romance related. Maybe a dishy fella was buying some fags on the way to the dentist and it started off a conversation.

    Sheesh, it sounds like the start of a dodgy Richard Curtis film, with Hugh Grant playing the hapless cigarette smoker and a too-good-looking-to-be-working-in-a-newsagent Scarlett Johansson behind the counter…

  2. Michael says:

    I think it refers to the effects of smoking on the gums and teeth.I recently went to the dentist and was asked “do you smoke” yes I replied. ” have you smoked before coming here today?” “yes” I said. “Well” said the dentisit “smoking takes the blood away from the gums.So its hard to tell how bad the effects of smoking have been on the gums”. I know this is not at all interesting but it may be an answer.

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