Today’s topic is about the dangers of smokeless tobacco. Cigarette sales at most Jefferson City stores have decreased in the past decade, but some Jefferson City tobacco consumers have switched to smokeless products. There is a common misconception in the Jefferson City area, especially among teenagers, that smokeless tobacco is harmless. This is absolutely not true. Regardless of the specific type: spit, snuff, chew, or pinch, this form of tobacco is just as deadly for oral health in Jefferson City as traditional cigarettes are.
At Jefferson City Dental Care, we encounter serious consequences of smokeless tobacco use. Oral cancer, mouth lesions, gum disease and tooth decay are the most common dental problems caused by smokeless tobacco in Missouri.
Keeping a pinch between your cheek and gum all day is worse than keeping an all-day sucker tucked in there. The tobacco contains almost as much sugar as the candy but delivers dangerous chemicals as an added bonus. The dangers are two-fold: the tobacco erodes the teeth and causes the gums to recede and pull away from teeth.
Dangers of Smokeless Tobacco
Precancerous Mouth Lesion Screening in Missouri: Mouth lesions are painful sores that could eventually become cancer. If smokeless tobacco use is stopped, the lesions frequently disappear within a year for Missouri dental patients.
Oral Cancer in Jefferson City: Smokeless tobacco use in Jefferson City increases the risk for several types of life-threatening cancers including those of the mouth, gums, lips, tongue, and throat.
Oral cancers can be as deadly as lung cancer and usually require surgery. If the Missouri patient is fortunate and the cancer is successfully removed with surgery, the collateral damage to the face, neck, or jaw is not pretty.
Smokeless tobacco poses a serious risk to oral health in Jefferson City, MO. Furthermore, tobacco products can lead to addiction and heart disease, although those are topics for another day.
Making a Change
At Jefferson City Dental Care in Jefferson City, we perform oral cancer screenings and mouth lesions examinations. To receive more information, or schedule an appointment or leave us a message on our website.
If you want to quit using smokeless tobacco products, we recommend that you speak with our dentist about your oral health in Jefferson City Dental Care. We don’t judge our patients and we’ll help you come up with strategies to improve your oral health. We also provide restorative dentistry and cosmetic dentistry for patients who want to see their teeth shine.
Contact Jefferson City Dental Care:
573-634-2400
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
3551 Amazonas Dr
Jefferson City, Missouri
65109
