Effect of Tobacco Use On Oral Health- An Overview
- Author:
K.H. Awan
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Tobacco, smoking, Oral cancer, betel quid, prevention
- From:
Annals of Dentistry
2011;18(1):18-23
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Tobacco use is linked with many serious illnesses, such
as cancer, cardiopulmonary diseases, as well as with
many health problems. Every year, the use of tobacco
products causes a heavy toll of deaths and severe
human disease worldwide. One of the many health
problems linked to tobacco use is its detrimental
impact on oral health. Tobacco causes a whole series
of oral health problems, ranging from life-threatening
(precancerous changes leading to oral cancer) and
serious (periodontal disease, teeth decay) to social (bad
breath). Tobacco is consumed through the mouth in a
variety of forms, varied from smoked tobacco to
smokeless tobacco chewing on itself or combined with
areca nut. All these forms of tobacco have damaging
effects on the oral health. The most significant
preventive measure to prevent the oral health problems
caused by tobacco use is to stop using tobacco
products. The risk of developing oral cancer drops
rapidly when a smoker ceases tobacco use. After ten
years of not using tobacco, an ex-smoker/user’s risk of
oral cancers is about the same as that for someone who
has never smoked. To stop using tobacco products is
not an easy task. Fortunately, there are a number of
therapies available to assist in quitting of tobacco. It
is important to remember that, while it will be difficult,
ceasing to use tobacco has immediate health benefits,
including increased life expectancy and reduced risk
of tobacco related diseases and conditions.
- Full text:W020150904555086215803.pdf
