For Your Dental Health by Dr. Sue Padavettan, DDS

APOLLO DENTAL CARE

Smokeless Tobacco Use And Dental Health

In the United States in the last decade the sale of smokeless tobacco has been increasing unlike the declining market trends for cigarettes. As a reaction to smoking bans it has been found that smokeless tobacco is being marketed as a way to use tobacco in smoke-free environments like restaurants, airplanes and work places. Smokeless tobacco use is a risk factor for cancer of the oral tissues and pharynx, gum disease, gingivitis, cavities, bad breath, tooth loss, teeth stains and nicotine addiction. smokeless tobacco has been associated with low birth weight infants and also pancreatic cancer. Smokeless tobacco comes in many forms like chewing tobacco, snus or as moist snuff which is placed and held between the lower lip and gingiva and both these forms cause excess salivation which has to be spit out frequently.. Other forms of smokeless tobacco consist of dissolvable fine milled tobacco, combined with candy flavors and look like pellets and these are also held between the gum and lower lip, some of them are available as films and are placed on the tongue where they dissolve. Risk taking behaviors often are established early in life particularly during adolescence. Adolescents have reported being curious about new smokeless tobacco products. A study of snus sales indicated that under aged buyers were successful in their purchase attempts more easily than that of successful purchase of cigarettes. Although advertisements for tobacco products are required by law to include warnings in boldfaced type stating that all forms of tobacco can cause oral cancer, the message is diluted by means of glamorous advertisements, price discounts, flavorings, convenient packaging and promotional allowances have been effective in generating sales. The use of smokeless tobacco as harm reduction strategy or as an alternative to smoking is controversial because people may equate less harmful with safe. Smokeless tobacco use may lead to smoking and using other combustible tobacco products like electronic nicotine delivery systems, bidis or cigars. Tobacco companies invest millions of dollars to promote the use of smokeless tobacco and have tried to make products appear popular, glamorous, and trendy. It is important to strengthen awareness for adolescent dental patients who are at risk of using smokeless tobacco and smoking. Getting educated about this habit and being knowledgeable about associated behavioral factors like riding in a vehicle with someone who is drunk, using marijuana, smoking can help them to make better choices and to stay away from these habits. Parents should be aware that dentists have the opportunity to educate, intervene and provide tobacco use cessation programs in the normal course of providing dental care.

Apollo Dental Care is the dental office of Dr. Sue Padavettan, D.D.S. Dr. Sue has 15 years of experience in dentistry, graduated from USC with outstanding achievement award for restorative dentistry, was elected member of Honor Dental Society by the Zeta Chapter and is an active member of and ADA, CDA and CCDS. Apollo Dental Care supports Heritage Patriots & East County Little League.

Apollo Dental Care is located at 4530 Balfour Rd. Suite C in Brentwood. They can be contacted at 925-634-5061.