Patients

• Bisphosphonate Therapy and the Oral Cavity
• Blood Thinners and Dental Care
• Burning Mouth Syndrome
• Canker Sores
• Canker Sores – Treatment
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)
• Dry Mouth (Xerostomia) – Treatment
• Fissured Tongue
• Geographic Tongue
• Gingival Enlargement
• Hairy Tongue
• Herpes Simplex Virus Infection (Cold Sores & Fever Blisters)
• Median Rhomboid Glossitis
• Methamphetamine Abuse – “Meth Mouth”
• Oral Chronic Graft‐Versus‐Host Disease
• Oral Hypersensitivity Reactions
• Oral Lichen Planus
• Oral Mucositis
• Oral Yeast Infections (Thrush or Candidiasis)
• Phantom Tooth Pain (Atypical Odontalgia)
• Premalignant Oral Lesions
• Solar Cheilitis
• Tobacco – Associated Oral Changes
• Tobacco – Common Questions & Concerns
• Tobacco – Why Quitting Smoking is Important
• Tooth Clenching or Tooth Grinding (Bruxism)
• Varicella-Zoster Disease (Shingles)

Tobacco – Why Quitting Smoking is Important

PDF: (English / Spanish / Japanese)

Since 1964 when the Surgeon General of the United States released his report linking smoking to a wide range of respiratory diseases including cancer, Americans have known of the potential hazards of cigarette/ pipe use. Following that report, the rate of smoking in adults has gradually decreased from 42.4% in 1965 to 20.9% in 2005. However, while we have made progress, there is still a great need to encourage tobacco cessation. We now know that smoking is responsible for many other diseases. Use of tobacco products has become the largest single preventable cause of death in America. Below is a brief discussion of some of the many links between smoking and systemic disease.

Tobacco Use and Systemic Diseases

Cardiovascular Disease: Cigarette smoke damages the lining of blood vessels and begins the process of atherosclerosis (plaque that blocks the blood vessels). This in turn leads to all forms of heart disease including angina (chest pain), heart attack, irregular heart beats, stroke, and sudden death. In 1990, it was estimated that there were 179,820 deaths from cardiovascular diseases directly related to smoking.

Lung Diseases: Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of respiratory diseases in the United States resulting in more than 84,000 deaths from bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia, and chronic airway obstruction (COPD. Cigarette smoking directly causes over 90% of lung cancers; and secondhand smoke causes 3,000 lung cancer deaths annually in nonsmokers. One study estimates that 17% of lung cancer in nonsmokers results from exposure to tobacco smoke during their childhood years.

Gastrointestinal Diseases: Smoking is associated with an increased risk for stomach ulcers and colon cancer.

Arthritis / Bone Disease: Smoking increases the risk for rheumatoid arthritis. Postmenopausal females who smoke often have lower bone density and are at increased risk for hip fractures.

Eye Disorders: Smoking increases the risk for cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

Depression: Smokers are more likely to have depression and have more anxiety disorders, bulimia, attention-deficit disorders, alcohol abuse, and schizophrenia than non-smokers.

Specific Concerns for Women Who Smoke: The leading cancer killer in females is lung cancer. Since 1950, there has been a 600% increase in lung cancer deaths in smoking females. Women who smoke have an increased risk of infertility and spontaneous abortion. Complications caused by smoking during pregnancy include pre-term delivery, increased risk of stillbirth, lower birth weight, and decreased lung function in the developing child.

Oral Disease: Many oral diseases are directly linked to smoking and tobacco use. Please see PATIENT INFORMATION SHEET: Oral Changes Associated with Tobacco Use.

Bottom Line: The negative, harmful, addictive effects of tobacco products are clear. If you or a person that you care for smokes, please take action to stop. It can be done.

Benefits of Stopping Smoking

One of the many excuses for not stopping smoking is that the health damage has already been done and that the damage cannot be reversed. Please see PATIENT INFORMATION SHEET: Tobacco Use: Common Questions and Concerns The following shows just how quickly you can benefit from stopping smoking:

After you smoke your last cigarette:

Within 20 minutes your blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature will return to its normal values.

Within 24 hours your risk for having a heart attack begins to decrease.

Within 2 days your sense of smell and taste will begin to return. Food will taste and smell like it should.

Within 3 days your body is “free” of nicotine.

Within 3 weeks both your body and brain will no longer be dependent on nicotine.

Within 3 months your blood circulation and lung function has significantly improved.

Within one year you will have a large reduction in risk for both heart diseases and cancers.

Within 15 years your health risks are similar to those of a non-tobacco user.

The information contained in this monograph is for educational purposes only. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have or suspect you may have a health concern, consult your professional health care provider. Reliance on any information provided in this monograph is solely at your own risk.

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ABOUT THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ORAL MEDICINE (AAOM) – The AAOM is a 501c6, nonprofit organization founded in 1945 as the American Academy of Dental Medicine and took its current name in 1966. The members of the American Academy of Oral Medicine include an internationally recognized group of health care professionals and experts concerned with the oral health care of patients who have complex medical conditions, oral mucosal disorders, and / or chronic orofacial pain. Oral Medicine is the field of dentistry concerned with the oral health care of medically complex patients and with the diagnosis and non-surgical management of medically-related disorders or conditions affecting the oral and maxillofacial region.

The American Academy of Oral Medicine • (425) 778-6162
www.aaom.com • PO Box 2016 • Edmonds • WA • 98020-9516

Prepared by G Taybos, K Crews and the AAOM Web Writing Group Prepared 28 July 2008