Introduction
Tobacco is the leaf
of a plant found commonly in Asia and Brazil. It is usually used in it's
dry form. Regular use of tobacco not only effects your dental health but
also the rest of your body. Tobacco in different forms is used by people
all over the world.
Types of Tobacco
products
- Snuff -
is a finely ground version of processed tobacco . It is usually sniffed
into the nose and is the most common cause of cancer of the nose and
the upper respirtory system .
- Chewing tobacco-
is an important cause of oral cancer . Tobacco in the form of shredded
or pressed bricks and cakes, called plugs, or rope-like strands called
twists are used for chewing. Users ''pinch'' or ''dip' 'tobacco and
place a wad in their cheek or between their lower lip and gums. It is
commonly believed that chewing tobacco is safer than smoking, which
is false, as it has been proved that chewing tobacco contains higher
levels of nicotine, thus making it more addictive than smoking cigarettes.
- Tobacco smoking:
Tobacco is rolled in paper or a leaf and then smoked, that is it could
be cigarettes or bidis. Smoking not only causes oral cancer but can
also cause lung cancer with throat cancer as a bonus along its path.
EFFECT OF TOBACCO
USE ON ORAL HEALTH:
- bad breath
- discolored teeth
- decreased smell
and taste
- increased risk
of developing cavities
- grit in snuff eats
away at the gums, exposing tooth roots, which are sensitive to hot and
cold temperature and can be very painful .
- Sugar in chewing
tobacco also causes decay.
- Long term use of
tobacco results in oral cancer.
If you fall into the
category of long term users, keep a watch for any white patch on your
cheek or any other part of your mouth, an ulcer which does not heal for
along time, or if your mouth opening has reduced. Consult your dentist
or doctor in case you notice any of the above signs.
EFFECT OF TOBAACCO
USE ON GENERAL HEALTH:
- Smoking reduces
appetite, thus resulting in weight loss, which in turn reduces the immunity
of the body and makes you more susceptible to other diseases.
- Smoking also effects
the lungs, thus causing breathlessness, chronic cough and emphysema
in addition to causing cancer of the lungs.
- The most severe
consequence of tobacco use is the addiction which, people are often
aware of, but yet take the risk and sometimes live to regret.
Resources
From Depak
Vaswani Oral Surgeon @ http://members.rediff.com/deepakvaswani/index.htm
Doctors
Corner INternet Group, Inc. 1997-2004
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