Smoking Tobacco

Most people are now aware that smoking is bad for their overall health. It can cause many different medical problems and, in some cases, fatal diseases such as certain forms of cancer.  However, many people still don't realize the damage smoking does to their mouth, gums and teeth.

Check out the link below for more information about the health risks of smoking and using tobacco products on your mouth.

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/s/smoking-and-tobacco

Chewing Tobacco and Snuff:

Using chewing tobacco products can harm your health, INCLUDING your teeth, gums, tongue and throat. Oral cancer is a devastating forms of cancer and is the greatest concern associated with smokeless tobacco use.  Those who survive often experience a negative impact on their quality of life.

Visit the link below to get oral health tips to keep your teeth and body healthy.

https://www.deltadentalins.com/oral_health/smokelesstobacco.html

Non-Cigarette Alternatives (vaping):

These products are marketed as "safer than cigarettes" however these products contain: nicotine (often in a much higher dose that a traditional cigarette) and ultrafine particles in the form of aerosol. This aerosol contains heavy metals and other volatile organic compounds such as benzene, nickel, tin, and chromium.  While some proponents like to argue that  vaping may be a better alternative that traditional smoking,  vaping and other non-cigarette alternatives are still extremely dangerous to our health. More research is needed to get the full scope of these dangers.  See below for important information about vaping and its potential impacts on your health.

4 Ways Vaping Can Ruin Your Teen's Smile:

https://www.americastoothfairy.org/news/4-ways-vaping-can-ruin-your-teens-smile

Smokeless Tobacco Use:

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/s/smoking-noncigarette-alternatives

E-Cigarette Use Among Youth: 

https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/knowtherisks.html#aerosol-exposure

Cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and other forms of tobacco can cause oral cancer, gum Disease, and other oral health problems. People who smoke are 3 times more likely to lose all of their teeth. Over 40% of adults aged 20 to 64 who currently smoke cigarettes have untreated tooth decay.

Ready to Quit?

Are you ready to quit using tobacco products and start a healthier and happier life? While it can be hard to give up tobacco products, quitting is one of the best changes you can make for your health. Below you will find resources that you can use to join the millions of ex-tobacco users who proved that quitting is possible:

Kick It California (formerly California Smokers' Helpline)
(1-800-300-8086)
Kick It California (formerly California Smokers' Helpline) is a telephone counseling program, offering FREE sessions of individual telephone support with trained counselors. The Kick It California services have been proven in clinical trials to double a smoker’s chances of successfully quitting. The Helpline offers: 

• one-on-one, telephone counseling to quit smoking and vaping
• referral to local programs and
• self-help materials.

Services are offered in six languages (English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, and Vietnamese) and specialized services are available for teens, pregnant women, and tobacco chewers. The Helpline also provides information to friends and family members of tobacco users.

• Text QUIT SMOKING to 66819
• 800-300-8086 (English)
• 800-600-8191 (Spanish)

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 7 am to 9 pm, and Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. Voicemail and recorded messages are available 24 hours a day.

YVape is a free educational program with phone coaching support for students who have been vaping at school. For more information, please visit https://yvape.org/en/

National Cancer Institute
(1-877-44U-QUIT) 
The National Cancer Institute provides smoking cessation counselors to answer smoking-related questions in English or Spanish, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Calls are toll-free within the United States.