Effects of Smokeless Tobacco on Oral Health
English 231c
The Effects of Smokeless Tobacco on Oral Health
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, about 42,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year due to the use of smokeless tobacco. This product will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing roughly one person per hour, 24 hours per day. Of those 42,000 newly diagnosed individuals, only slightly more than half will be alive in five years. This is a number, which has not significantly improved in decades. The death rate for oral cancer is found to be much higher than that of cancers, which we hear about routinely. According to the World Health Organization, there is conclusive evidence that certain smokeless tobacco products increase risk of oral cancer, specifically smokeless tobacco in the United States. Studies have shown that one-third of the world’s population uses tobacco and of that one-third, half will die as a direct result to their use of this drug (Petersen). In today’s society, an individual’s oral health is not only determined by their hygiene habits, but their social habits as well. Smokeless tobacco users have a 50 percent higher rate of oral cancer than non-users. Oral health is an even more immediate concern that all smokeless tobacco users need to be aware of (Heckman). As we all know, tobacco in any type of form is a very addicting drug. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, for each 1,000 tons of tobacco produced, about one thousand people eventually will die. Throughout this research paper, I am aiming to explain in greater detail the negative oral health issues associated with the use of smokeless tobacco, early symptoms of diseases related to the use of this product, and alternatives for users to partake in so they can reduce the likelihood of being affected from these various detrimental diseases. Repeated use of smokeless tobacco can cause a long list of oral health issues, such as the risk of oral cancer, as well as increased risk of dental
The Effects of Smokeless Tobacco on Oral Health
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, about 42,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year due to the use of smokeless tobacco. This product will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing roughly one person per hour, 24 hours per day. Of those 42,000 newly diagnosed individuals, only slightly more than half will be alive in five years. This is a number, which has not significantly improved in decades. The death rate for oral cancer is found to be much higher than that of cancers, which we hear about routinely. According to the World Health Organization, there is conclusive evidence that certain smokeless tobacco products increase risk of oral cancer, specifically smokeless tobacco in the United States. Studies have shown that one-third of the world’s population uses tobacco and of that one-third, half will die as a direct result to their use of this drug (Petersen). In today’s society, an individual’s oral health is not only determined by their hygiene habits, but their social habits as well. Smokeless tobacco users have a 50 percent higher rate of oral cancer than non-users. Oral health is an even more immediate concern that all smokeless tobacco users need to be aware of (Heckman). As we all know, tobacco in any type of form is a very addicting drug. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, for each 1,000 tons of tobacco produced, about one thousand people eventually will die. Throughout this research paper, I am aiming to explain in greater detail the negative oral health issues associated with the use of smokeless tobacco, early symptoms of diseases related to the use of this product, and alternatives for users to partake in so they can reduce the likelihood of being affected from these various detrimental diseases. Repeated use of smokeless tobacco can cause a long list of oral health issues, such as the risk of oral cancer, as well as increased risk of dental