Tobacco use
A harmful oral habit is the use of tobacco. Here are
some oral problems that may occur with the use of tobacco.
Oral Side Effects of Tobacco
 | Sticky tar deposits or brown staining on the teeth |
| Smoker's palate - red inflammation on the roof of
the mouth |
| Delayed healing of the gums |
| Increased severity of gum disease |
| Black hairy tongue |
| Oral lesions |
| Gum recession - with chewing tobacco at the site of
the tobacco "wad", the gums react by receding along the tooth
root, exposing the root |
| Oral cancer |
Hazards of Tobacco
One of the most devastating effects of tobacco is the
development of oral cancer. Approximately 75% of all oral cancers in North
America are associated with tobacco use and alcohol consumption. The risk of
oral cancer increases with the number of cigarettes smoked each day and the
number of years that the person has been smoking. Cigarettes are not the only
oral habit that can cause oral cancer, all tobacco products, such as;
smokeless/spit tobacco, cigars, and pipes are associated with oral cancer. The
type of tobacco product will also dictate where the oral cancer can be located
in the mouth. For instance, smokeless tobacco is linked to cancer of the cheek
and gums.
Benefits of Tobacco Cessation
The most significant preventive measure used to prevent
oral cancer is cessation of tobacco products. When a person stops using tobacco,
the risk of developing oral cancer drops rapidly. In 10 years of tobacco use
cessation, the risk is similar to an individual who has never smoked. Oral
cancer can be prevented by choosing to be a non-tobacco user.
Quitting tobacco use is very difficult, since it is an
addiction. There can be temporary withdrawal symptoms that occur a short period
after your last tobacco use.
A few "quitting" aids have been found to help
users. These aids decrease withdrawal symptoms and the craving for tobacco. Some
examples are:
| the nicotine patch |
| nicotine gum |
| nicotine inhaler |
| nicotine nasal spray |
All of these aids are beneficial if the individual is
motivated to quite, and if used at the same time with counseling or self-help
groups. Your dental office may offer a tobacco use cessation program as more and
more dental offices are becoming involved in such programming. Other program
sources may be medical and nursing associations, heart and lung associations, or
even a community center.
Detection of Oral Cancer
Oral cancer can be detected in the early stages. Some
signs and symptoms of oral cancer are:
| swelling, lump, growth, or hardness in the mouth or
neck. These lumps are usually painless |
| red or white patches in the mouth |
| repeated bleeding from the mouth or throat |
| difficulty in chewing or swallowing |
Any sore that does not heal after 2 weeks should be
checked out by your dentist or physician.
Visiting your dental professional regularly is a way to
help diagnose or detect oral cancer. Dental hygienist and dentists are trained
to detect abnormalities. If there are any abnormal tissue changes, the dentist
or oral pathologist can take a biopsy to confirm a diagnosis. Most lesions are
not cancer, but it is best to be safe if anything looks unusual.
To know the difference between a healthy mouth and any
suspicious lesion, you can perform a monthly Oral Cancer
Self Examination.
Remember, if the lesion or sore does not heal after 2
week, promptly see your oral health professional or physician. Early detection
of cancer increases the chance of successful treatment.
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