Tobacco and oral
health
Tobacco is one of the greatest public health challenges the world
faces today. Every year over 4.9 million deaths are caused by tobacco.
By 2030, unless there are dramatic reductions in tobacco use, that
number will rise to 10 million deaths annually. There is overwhelming
evidence showing that tobacco use causes many diseases, including
stroke; heart attack; chronic bronchitis; chronic cough; asthma; cold;
and cancer of the lungs, throat, mouth, stomach, kidney and bladder.
Half of all regular smokers die of a condition caused by smoking.
Tobacco related diseases are increasing, especially in the developing
countries which are experiencing the highest increase in the rate
of tobacco use. It is estimated that tobacco will be the leading cause
of death in the world by the third decade of this century, causing
more deaths than HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, maternal mortality, automobile
crashes, homicides and suicides combined.
Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world today.
Prevention is clearly the most cost-effective measure. Tobacco control
protects the rights and health of non-smokers, especially babies,
children, youth and pregnant women.
The effects of tobacco use on the population's oral health are alarming.
The most significant effects of smoking on the oral cavity are: oral
cancers and pre-cancers, increased severity and extent of periodontal
diseases, as well as poor wound healing. The clear link between oral
diseases and tobacco use provides an ideal opportunity for oral health
professionals to partake in tobacco control initiatives and cessation
programmes.
The FDI shares and fully supports the goal of the WHO Oral Health
Programme, which is “to ensure that oral health teams and oral
health organizations are directly, appropriately and routinely involved
in influencing patients and the public to avoid and discontinue the
use of all forms of tobacco.”
There are several moral, ethical and practical reasons why oral health
professionals should strengthen their contribution to tobacco cessation
programmes, for example:
- They are concerned about the adverse effects in the oropharyngeal
region;
- They often have access to children, youths and their caregivers,
thus providing opportunities to influence these individuals on the
dangers of tobacco;
- They often have more time with patients than many other clinicians,
providing opportunities to integrate education and intervention
methods into practice;
- They often treat women of childbearing age, and are thus able
to inform them about the potential harm to their babies from tobacco
use;
- They are as effective as other clinicians in helping tobacco
users quit and it is known that a multi-disciplinary approach increases
cessation rates; and
- They can stimulate their smoking patients into quitting by showing
the actual effects of tobacco on the mouth.
(Source: World Oral Health Report 2003, WHO,Geneva)
Studies have shown that even brief counselling by health professionals
on the dangers of smoking and importance of quitting is one of the
most cost-effective methods of reducing smoking. Smoking cessation
improves the health and wellbeing of patients and also improves the
outcomes of certain dental treatments. Health professionals shall
also lead by example. They should act as role-models for their patients,
by ceasing to smoke, and by ensuring their workplaces and public facilities
are smoke and tobacco-free.
Helping patient's stop smoking may be the single most important
service dentists can provide for their patients'oral and general health.
Links & further information
Read more about research and diseases related to tobacco:
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