| Allan I. Abolafia, D.D.S. |  |
Allen W. Ackerman, D.D.S. |
| THE TOOTH TRIBUNE |
TEENS AND TOBACCO
Despite the media, despite advertising campaigns, despite warning signs on the pack, thousands of youngsters, every day, are starting to use tobacco. Translated into medical statistics, that quite simply means that every year thousands of young people are starting an addictive, most-often lifelong habit that directly contributes to the death of one out of every six adults!While cigarette smoking appears to be declining among youth, research shows that the use of "smokeless tobacco" like snuff and chewing tobacco is at a disturbing increase particularly among males.
Frequent users of smokeless tobacco have increased risk of receding gums, mouth sores and oral
cancer. In a recent study at the State University of New York at Buffalo, researchers found that
the loss of fibrous tissue between tooth and bone in smokers was three times greater than in
non-smokers. Long-range implications include potential nicotine-related problems, such as
cardiovascular complications.
As parents ourselves, we urge you to look for the warning signs that your child has begun
smoking. Look for clues in the lips, teeth and gums. Be aware of the unmistakable odor that
"hangs" over a child who smokes. Watch for monies being spent quickly without a good
explanation. Regular dental visits for your youngsters will allow us, your dental team, to be on the
lookout for those signs.
Of course, smoking is not only a "children's issue." Every smoker should be made aware of the health hazards they face when choosing to smoke. Encourage and support the smokers you know to stop. Smoking is injurious to your health. Passive smoke kills as many as 50,000 people each year and is the third leading preventable cause of death. Be kind to yourself, to your friends and neighbors. Stop smoking!
SMOKING FACTS
Cigarette smoke consists of more than 4,700 compounds, 43% of which, such as tar are cancer-causing. The most potent ingredient in tobacco is nicotine, an alkaloid. A typical cigarette contains 15-20 mg. of nicotine of which approximately 1 mg. reaches the blood stream when the cigarette is smoked. This may seem like a small amount; not so, however, when you consider that 2 or 3 drops of an alkaloid (less than 50 mg.) are fatal to an adult!