Tobacco: A silent killer

Tobacco: A silent killer




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Oral side effects
Apart from the other medical problems, tobacco causes the following oral side-effects:
Sticky tar deposits or brown staining on the teeth
'Smoker's palate' - red inflammation on the roof of the mouth
Increased severity of gum disease
Delayed healing of the gums
Bad breath or Halitosis
Gum recession - with chewing tobacco at the site of the tobacco wad, the gums react by receding along the tooth root and exposing the root
Pre-cancerous oral lesions
Oral cancer
Hazards of tobacco habit:
One of the most devastating effects of tobacco is the development of oral cancer.
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 indicate the location of the cancerous lesion in the mouth. For instance, smokeless tobacco is linked to cancer of the cheek and gums, as the wad of tobacco is kept localized in a particular area in the mouth.
Smokeless tobacco
Smokeless tobacco comes in the form of Gutkha, Paan masala, Kharra, Khaini, etc. It may be smokeless but it is not harmless!
Tooth Abrasion: Grit and sand in smokeless tobacco products produce scratches on the teeth and wears away the enamel. Premature loss of tooth enamel can cause 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 in the mouth, causing an acid production, which leads to decay of teeth.
Stained teeth and bad breath: Long-term smokeless tobacco users usually have stained teeth, bad breath and poor oral hygiene. Moreover, the habit of continuously spitting happens to be extremely offensive and unsightly.
Nicotine dependence: Nicotine blood levels achieved by the use of smokeless tobacco 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 carry oxygen-rich blood throughout the body, which reduces the overall performance and endurance levels of a person.
Unhealthy eating habits: Chewing tobacco reduces a person's sense of taste and smell. As a result, they tend to eat more salty and sweet foods, both of which are harmful if consumed in excess.
Oral Cancer: With the practice of chewing and holding tobacco, its irritating juices are left in contact with gums, cheeks and/or lips for prolonged periods of time. This can result in a condition called as Leukoplakia, which is a pre-cancerous lesion and appears either as a smooth, white patch or as leathery-looking wrinkled skin. It results in cancer in 3 percent to 5 percent of all cases.
Other Cancers: All forms of smokeless tobacco contain high concentrations of cancer-causing agents (carcinogens). These substances cause increased cancer risk not only of the oral cavity, but also the pharynx, larynx, oesophagus and urinary bladder.
Danger signs:
If you use smokeless tobacco, or have in the past, you should be on the lookout for some of these signs:
A painless ulcer that does not heal over two weeks
A lump or white/red patch in the mouth or over the tongue
Swelling, lump or hardness in the mouth or neck
A prolonged sore throat
Difficulty in chewing and swallowing
Restricted movement of the tongue or jaws
A feeling of something present in the throat
Repeated bleeding from the mouth and throat
Pain is rarely an early symptom.
These could be the early signs of Oral Cancer If detected early, oral cancer is curable. Also, the smaller the ulcer/lesion, the better the chances of cure.
Quit tobacco
When a person stops using tobacco, the risk of developing oral cancer drops rapidly. In 10 years of tobacco cessation, the risk is similar to an individual who has never smoked. Surprisingly, 85 per cent of tobacco users wish to quit the habit. Decide positively that you want to quit. Educate yourself to the harmful effects of tobacco.

Cease tobacco use totally

Avoid situations that increase your urge for tobacco. For e.g. peer pressure, boredom, etc.
Become health conscious - Jog, walk, exercise, swim, etc.
Collect the money that you save. As it multiplies you will realize what you have lost all these years.
Quitting tobacco consumption is very difficult, since it is an addiction. There can be temporary withdrawal symptoms that occur a short period after your last tobacco use but do not give up. Even a simple cigarette/paan can take you into the habit all over again. Cold turkey is the only remedy for this kind of addiction.
A few quitting aids help decrease withdrawal symptoms and the craving for tobacco. Some examples are:

Nicotine patch
Nicotine gum
Nicotine inhaler
Nicotine nasal spray
All of these aids are beneficial if the individual is motivated to quit, and if used at the same time with counseling or self-help groups.
The idea behind nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patch, nicotine gum, etc.) is that providing nicotine in a form other than a cigarette can minimize the symptoms of withdrawal while a person is weaned from smoking. During this time, with the help of a counselor or a doctor in a smoking-cessation program, the patient learns to live without the habits associated with cigarette smoking, such as having something in the hand or mouth, drawing smoke in and puffing it out, or reaching for a cigarette in response to a behavioral pattern, such as a cup of coffee or stress.

For those who just cannot quit tobacco:

Avoid prolonged placement of any form of tobacco in your mouth. The longer the contact the greater is the risk.
Maintain meticulous oral hygiene.
Examine your mouth in the mirror at least once a month (please read about self-examination) Get a periodic chest X-ray and a check-up done at least once a year.
Self examination
Another very important aspect while discussing Tobacco-related effects is examination of ones own mouth for any evidence of change.
Stand in front of the mirror in good illumination, open your mouth wide and look for small lumps, swellings, ulcers, or a red/white patch.
Look out for the same on your tongue margins, below the tongue and over the tongue. Examine the lips too for any evidence.
Examine the lips too for the same. In case you see anything that is unexplained, visit your dentist immediately.