TOBACCO: Be Smart, Don't Start

TOBACCO MEANS ??

The tropical American plant, leaves of the same are cured and transformed into tobacco ,rich in nicotine having narcotic properties.

Epidemic use of tobacco is the greatest threat to global health today. Main preventable cause of premature death and common risk factor and primary cause of many oral and several chronic diseases.

TWO FORMS :

1. SMOKELESS TOBACCO

Contains 28 cancer causing agents. Snuffs, Gutka, Pan, Chewing tobacco, Topical tobacco paste , Tobacco water.

2. SMOKE TOBACCO

Beedi, Cigars, Cigarettes, Hookah.

UNDERLYING FACTS :

• India ranks 2nd in contributing to the tobacco production i.e., 8.3% after China.

• Rate of consumption has seen a rise by 3.4% per year in developing countries whereas there has been decline in developed countries.

• One third of population use tobacco and out of that half die prematurely.

• Approx 3000 children and teens becomes regular user every day. Usually targets youth and women.

ROLE OF TOBACCO ON ORAL HEALTH

• GUM DISEASE: Tobacco plays a very significant role in development and progression of gum disease or periodontal disease. 83% of the population have this disease with increased risk of gum recession.

• TOOTH LOSS: Twice as likely to lose their teeth as non smoker. Reason being gum recession which causes the loss of bone needed for the support leading to mobility of tooth.

• TOOTH DECAY: Reason being decreased saliva flow and causing plaque and tartar accumulation which increases the pH level in mouth, causing the tooth monsters to get activated and do the damage, likely to need Root Canal Treatment (RCT).

• STAINED TEETH AND BAD BREATH

• SLOW HEALING: Reduces the body's ability to fight infection thus limiting the growth of blood vessels and also decreased blood flow to tissues limits the delivery of nutrients necessary for support and hence slowing the healing process.

• ORAL CANCER: Due to the presence of carcinogens, the activity to cause cancer is initiated.

WHY USED ??

Tobacco dependence is due to nicotine addiction disorder which covers 4 aspects:

1. Physical

2. Sensory

3. Psychological

4. Behavioral

TOBACCO contains more than 50 chemicals that causes CANCER.

​PREVENTION

Tobacco users may need to try several times before they are able to successfully kick the habit . Need to be addressed in order to break the habit so that ONE DOESN'T LET HIS OR HER ORAL HEALTH GO UP IN SMOKE.

Dental and healthcare professionals have a crucial role to play in raising awareness of the danger to oral health.

• SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAMS - Important step to improve oral health and reverse the risk of oral cancer is to STOP SMOKING .

• Nicotine replacement therapy - The combination of providing opportunistic advice particularly to stop smoking together with regular screening will reduce the overall morbidity and mortality from oral cancer and other mouth disorders and will improve the quality of life.

• WHO oral health programs gives priority to tobacco control - development of national and community programs which incorporates oral health and tobacco issue , tobacco prevention from schools , tobacco risk assessment in countries.

• Quitting , exercising , chewing gums ,keeping yourself occupied , popping "positivity" instead of pills.

CONCLUSION

Ones life must be controlled by the individual so its better to CONTROL TOBACCO BEFORE IT CONTROLS YOU .

Every year 31st MAY is celebrated as WORLD'S NO TOBACCO DAY . Let's try and make everyday as world's no tobacco day.

Lastly :

"IF YOU DON'T STOP SMOKING , CANCER WILL "

#Tobacco