Show Dentists Against This is the sixth in a series of oC six articles on dental health published in hi observance of National National National Na Na- Childrens Children's Dental Health Week February 1 1 7 My dentist has recently joined the list of or people including including in including in- in my physician and my wife who are trying to get me meto meto meto to quit smoking Why should my dentist be concerned about smoking Dentists have a very real concern with smoking and its harmful effects For example we know that cigarette smokers smokers smokers ers have about four times the risk of oC death from oral cancer that smokers non do Some new cases of oral cancer cancer cancer can can- are reported each year and about two out of three of these people will be dead within five years TilE THE FACT that cigarette smoking is a very serious health hazard is no longer disputed disputed disputed dis dis- dis- dis in informed circles Twenty venty years of research laboratory clinical and epi- epi have given sound foundation to this con con- Of particular relevance to dentistry are findings relating relating relating re re- lating the smoking of cigarettes cigarettes cigarettes ciga ciga- ciga- ciga as well as of pipes and cigars cigars to the development of oral cancer and other abnormalities abnormalities abnormalities abnor abnor- of the oral tissue Oral cancer is one of the most malignant of all can can- cers Only persons with lung and stomach cancers have lower survival rates than those with oral cancer Frequently Frequently Frequently Fre Fre- oral cancer is painless painless painless pain pain- less until it is too late for treatment Even when oral cancer is treatable the treatment treatment treatment treat treat- ment is often disfiguring CUTTING out smoking entirely entirely entirely en en- is one way to help prevent oral cancer Also you should see your family dentist at regular intervals so he can check for possible malignancies as well as for dental problems It is interesting to note that smokers are on the average absent from their jobs about six to seven days more dur dur- ing ig the year than are n smokers If you ad add d all aU th days together for all aU sm this means means' that about million more work days a alost lost by cigarette smoke smokers rs ar by non IF YOU ARE concern concerned about smoking and and oral can see your family den t. t Early detection and treatment of oral cancer are eSSen essentIal to effective cure You sh watch out for the follow folloWing signs of possible mall a cies des j f 1 A swelling in the theor Palate or other oral intra-oral areas 2 Persistent red spots p par mouth in the floor of th the e 3 White patches f on o on ora t tissues es 4 Unhealed ulcerations ulceration on on n die The lip in or the mouth BUT THE best advice is a ir Give up smoking The haj hai I ards ands far outweigh the pleas ures ores of smoking I |