Tobacco has long been recognized as a detriment to our health, having a negative affect on so many aspects of a tobacco users health. November is Mouth Cancer Awareness Month so it’s a good time to consider kicking the tobacco habit.
The American Cancer Society estimates that about 54,010 new cases of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer will be diagnosed in 2021 and roughly 10,850 deaths will result from the same. Tobacco use can increase your risk of having these forms of cancer – knowing the facts can help you make informed decisions about your health.
Cigarette Smoking
- 90% of smokers began before the age 19.
- About 1.69 billion pounds of butts end up as toxic trash each year, making cigarettes the most littered item on Earth.
Vaping
Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling the water vapor produced by an electric device called a vaporizer. The most popular devices used for vaping are hookahs and e-cigarettes. Some users hack e-cigarette devices to allow dripping, which is dropping e-cigarette liquid directly on hot coils of the device to produce thicker, more flavorful smoke.
- Hookah
- Tobacco juices from hookahs irritate the mouth and increase the risk of developing oral cancers.
- An hour-long hookah smoking session involves 200 puffs while smoking an average cigarette involves 20 puffs.
- E-Cigarettes
- E-cigarettes are popular among teens and are now the most commonly used form of tobacco among youth in the United States.
- Two times as many boys use e-cigs as girls.
- Teen e-cig users are more likely to smoking. 7 percent of e-cig users started smoking within 6 months while 8.1 percent of non-users started smoking.
- Dripping
- One in four teens reported using e-cigarettes for dripping.
- As the liquid in e-cigs is heated to higher temperatures, dripping may expose users to higher levels of nicotine and to harmful non-nicotine toxins, such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.
Smokeless Tobacco/chew/dip
- More than 30 chemicals in smokeless tobacco are linked to cancer. When you chew smokeless tobacco, the addictive chemical nicotine is absorbed through the tissue in your mouth, and other chemicals such as lead, formaldehyde, and carcinogens, like cadmium and arsenic, are also released.
It’s always the right time to quit tobacco use and start living a healthier life. Call us at (248) 852-3130 today to schedule your six-month check-up and a free cancer screening.
Note: Information provided is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified dental and medical health providers with questions you may have regarding your specific dental or medical conditions.
- does-vaping-cause-oral-cancer
- Dangers of Dip
- https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/tobacco_industry/hookahs/index.htmE-cig
- Dangerous Trend for Teens who Vape
- Facts About Teen Smoking
- https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/smokeless.html
- “Smokeless” Doesn’t Mean “Safe”
- https://oralcancerfoundation.org/understanding/tobacco/
