Almost all adult smokers have tried smoking before the age of nineteen. In all likelihood, an individual who abstains from smoking throughout the teenage years will never pick up the habit. Therefore, it is essential that parents strongly discourage preadolescent and adolescent tobacco use.
Tobacco use in any form brings the oral region into direct contact with carcinogens (cancer-causing agents). These carcinogens and other harmful chemicals cause irreparable damage to the child’s oral health.
Parents and teens often mistakenly evaluate smokeless tobacco as the “safer” option. In fact, smokeless tobacco has been proven to deliver a greater concentration of harmful agents into the body, and to be far more addictive. One snuff of tobacco has approximately the same nicotine content as sixty regular cigarettes. In addition, smokeless tobacco causes leukoplakias in the mouth, which are dangerous pre-cancerous lesions.
Oral cancer can be difficult to detect without the aid of the dentist. In some cases, oral cancer is not noticeable or even painful until its later stages. Parents of tobacco users must be aware of the following symptoms:
Oral cancer is treatable if caught early. Disfiguring surgery can be avoided by having the child abstain from tobacco use and getting regular preventive dental checkups.
There are several ways to discourage children and adolescents from using tobacco products. First, talking to the child personally about the dangers of tobacco use (or asking the dentist to talk to the child) has proven an effective preventive strategy. Second, parents should lead by example. According to research studies, children of non-smokers are less likely to pick up this dangerous habit. Third, monitor the child closely. If the child will not cooperate, screenings for tobacco can be requested at the dental office.
One key piece of our Bridgewater dental practice's success is our focus on building a foundation of trust with our patients. We understand that each patient is a unique individual with a variety of needs, and we know that some patients can feel uneasy about their dental visits. We also know that creating a relaxing and positive experience is vitally important to patient satisfaction. Our compassionate team is dedicated to providing you with personalized care to make your consultations as comfortable and pleasant as possible. We truly thank you for allowing us to handle your dental care needs and we look forward to meeting you soon!