Author- Dr. Aditi Nanda

Do you smoke or chew tobacco? It's the time to quit! 

With more than 1.3 billion regular smokers in the world today, tobacco has taken over the entire globe, with developing countries bearing the brunt. Tobacco is individually responsible for killing more than 8 million people per year, globally. Doesn't that make you wonder and worry? I really hope it does!

Which one do you use and WHY? 

The commonly used smokeless forms of tobacco are Zarda, Gutka, Naswar, Paan, Khaini, Mawa etc. Whereas its smoked forms include Bidi, Cigarette, Chutta, Chillum, Hookah etc. Cigarette smoking is the most common form of tobacco used worldwide. Remember, Waterpipe tobacco or Hookah is similarly damaging to health, but its hazards are often little understood by users, especially teenagers. 

An ounce of prevention is better than the pound of cure! 

Tobacco contains numerous mutagens and carcinogens with Nicotine being the most toxic of them all. It causes addiction, which is linked to its ability to trigged dopamine release, a chemical that causes the feeling of pleasure. Polycyclic hydrocarbons and nitrosamines are the two major classes of carcinogens found in the inhaled tobacco smoke.  Gases like Carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide are no less fatal. CO interface with the update of oxygen in the lungs whereas NO causes lung tissue damage, leading to decreased oxygen carrying capacity and emphysema respectively. 

On the whole, the various constituents of tobacco cause activation of oncogenes and injuries to tumour suppressor genes responsible for DNA repair, hence leading to altered genomes. These gradual mutations over time cause unrestrained proliferation and division of cells- Henceforth, set the ball rolling for the deadly oral cancer! It can occur anywhere- your lip, cheek, tongue, palate, or throat.

Cancer- the slow killer!

Cancer isn't something that grows overnight. There are early signs and symptoms for us to detect what we call- The precancerous lesions. Leukoplakia, Erythroplakia, Smoker's palate, OSMF are some of the most prevalent lesions in tobacco users. These are basically morphologically altered patches of tissues, in which cancer is more likely to develop. These lesions, if detected early, can be reversed with pharmacological treatment & of course commitment to quit tobacco! 

Commit to quit tobacco!

Often and again, we tell you or for that matter beg you, to quit before it's too late! Tobacco can be hard to quit, but that's where we, the dentists, are to help. We will Ask, Advice, Assess, Assist & Arrange for you to quit. The earlier you approach, the easier it is for us to help.  Don't wait for a painful, ulcerative, and fungating growth to house your mouth. Book yourself for a counselling for tobacco cessation and visit your dentist to check, undo and repair whatever remains in hands!