Hello, Decatur dental friends. Today’s topic is ‘The Dangers Of Smokeless Tobacco’.
Cigarette sales at most stores have decreased in the past decade, but some tobacco consumers have switched to smokeless products.
Contrary to popular belief (especially among teens), smokeless tobacco is harmless. Regardless of the specific type: spit tobacco, snuff, chew, or pinch, this form of tobacco is as deadly as traditional cigarettes.
At Decatur Smiles, we encounter serious consequences of smokeless tobacco use because many occur in the mouth. Oral cancer, mouth lesions, gum disease and tooth decay are the most common dental problems caused by smokeless tobacco in Alabama.
Keeping a pinch between your cheek and gum all day is worse than keeping an all-day sucker tucked in there. The tobacco contains almost as much sugar as the candy but delivers harmful chemicals as an added bonus. The dangers are two-fold: the tobacco erodes the teeth and also causes the gums to pull away from teeth.
Precancerous Mouth Lesion Screening in Alabama: Mouth lesions are painful sores that could eventually become cancer. If smokeless tobacco use is stopped, the lesions frequently disappear within a year for Alabama dental patients.
Oral Cancer in Decatur: Smokeless tobacco use in Decatur increases the risk for several types of life-threatening cancers including those of the mouth, gums, lips, tongue, and throat.
Oral cancers can be as deadly as lung cancer and usually require surgery. If the patient is fortunate and the cancer is successfully removed with surgery, the collateral damage to the face, neck, or jaw is not pretty.
These are the main dental risks of smokeless tobacco. In addition, I should also mention two other biggies: addiction and heart disease, though those are topics for another day.
At Decatur Smiles, we perform oral cancer screenings and mouth lesions examinations. To receive more details, or schedule an appointment, call 256-350-5820.
If want to quit using smokeless tobacco products, we recommend that you speak with Dr. Teichmiller, your primary care doctor, or your pharmacist.
Contact Decatur Smiles: 256-350-5820
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
1316 Somerville Rd SE Ste 2
Decatur, Alabama
35601