Mouth Matters

Mouth Matters | 0 5 Tobacco use is the chief avoidable cause of illness and death in North America and it is a known cause of cancer, heart disease, stroke and emphysema. In terms of oral health, tobacco use increases the risk of oral cancer, periodontitis (gum disease), tooth loss, cough, hairy tongue, tartar, bad breath and tooth stains, as well as delaying healing. Tobacco can also cause cancer-related diseases of the tongue, mouth, larynx, throat and lip. Your dentist and other members of the dental team are interested in your general health as well as your oral health. If you do not use tobacco, they will encourage you to remain tobacco free. If you use tobacco, they will strongly advise you to quit. And, when you are ready, they will assist you in stopping. Even a two- or three-minute consultation with your dentist can increase your chances of success by 15 - 20% – three times greater than quitting on your own. About one-third of all Manitobans are smokers. However, 79% say they want to quit, and there has never been an easier time. Following are some ways of stopping the smoking habit: Get ready Set a quit date. Change your surroundings. Get rid of all cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, office and car. Don't let people smoke in your home. Review your past attempts to quit – what worked and what didn't? Once you quit, don't smoke – not even a puff. Get support You have a better chance of quitting if you have lots of support. Tell family, friends and co-workers that you are going to quit. Ask them for their help and not to smoke when they are with you. Tell health-care providers that you plan to quit. Ask for help from your dentist, dental hygienist, physician, pharmacist, nurse, psychologist or a smoking cessation counsellor. Get individual, group or telephone counselling. Learn new life skills and behaviour Try to distract yourself from urges to smoke by talking, walking and keeping busy. Change your routine when you first quit. Use a different route to work, drink tea instead of coffee, or frequent a different café. Reduce your stress: Exercise, take a hot bath, read a book. Plan something enjoyable to do every day. And drink a lot of water. Get tobacco cessation medication Everyone who is trying to quit may benefit from using a medication (Bupropion SR [Zyban], nicotine gum, nicotine patch). Medications will double your chance of quitting. Some of the medications may not be right for you. Ask your dentist or physician for advice. Follow all directions for use. Be prepared for relapses or difficult situations Most relapses occur within the first three months after quitting. Don't be discouraged if you start smoking again. Quit again. Avoid difficult situations such as alcohol use or the presence of other smokers. Don't let temporary weight gain (generally less than 4.5 kilograms) discourage you. Eat healthy and exercise to feel good about yourself. There are many ways to improve a bad mood or depression other than smoking. Talk to your dentist. - MANITOBA DENTAL ASSOCIATION are you ready to QUit sMOkinG? cancer problems. Doctors say athletes should examine their mouths every month to look for white dots or white patches on the gums, inner cheeks or lower lip. Early intervention can prevent much more serious problems later. Some other oral problems to watch for include: TOOTH ABRASION - Grit and sand in smokeless tobacco products scratches teeth and wears away the hard surface or enamel. Premature loss of tooth enamel can cause added sensitivity and may require corrective treatment. GuM RECESSION - Constant irritation to the spot in the mouth where a small wad of chewing tobacco is placed can result in permanent damage to periodontal tissue. It also can damage the supporting bone structure. The injured gums pull away from the teeth, exposing root surfaces and leaving teeth sensitive to heat and cold. Erosion of critical bone support leads to loosened teeth that can be permanently lost. INCREASED TOOTH DECAY - Sugar is added to smokeless tobacco during the curing and processing to improve its taste. The sugar reacts with bacteria found naturally in the mouth, causing an acid reaction, which leads to decay. TOOTH DISCOLORATION AND BAD BREATH - Common traits of long-term smokeless tobacco users are stained teeth and bad breath. NICOTINE DEPENDENCE - Nicotine blood levels achieved by smokeless tobacco use are similar to those from cigarette smoking. Nicotine addiction can lead to an artificially increased heart rate and blood pressure. In addition, it can constrict the blood vessels that are necessary to carry oxygen- rich blood throughout the body. Athletic performance and endurance levels are decreased by this reaction. uNHEALTHY EATING HABITS - Chewing tobacco lessens a person's sense of taste and ability to smell. As a result, users tend to eat more salty and sweet foods, both of which are harmful if consumed in excess. ORAL CANCER - Chewing tobacco can pose a serious cancer threat to the jaw and mouth cavity. Using the tobacco means irritating juices are left in contact with gums, cheeks and/ or lips for prolonged periods of time. This can result in a condition called leukoplakia. Leukoplakia, a precancerous lesion, appears either as a smooth, white patch or as leathery-looking wrinkled skin. It results in cancer in three to five per cent of all cases. OTHER CANCERS - All forms of smokeless tobacco contain high concentrations of cancer-causing agents. These substances subject users to increased cancer risk not only of the oral cavity, but also the pharynx, larynx and esophagus. If you use smokeless tobacco, or have in the past, you should be on the lookout for some of these early signs of oral cancer: • A sore that does not heal. • A lump or white patch. • A prolonged sore throat. • Difficulty in c hewing. • Restricted movement of the tongue or jaws. • A feeling of something in the throat. Smokeless tobacco contains 28 cancer-causing agents (carcinogens). Pain is rarely felt as a warning sign. For this reason, all tobacco users need regular dental checkups. DrMurrayWhite DrRobRamsay DrAngelaThomas DrJordanPang completefamily, cosmetic&implantdentistry 487-1744 www.corydondental.com

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