Local Dental Care - Losing Primary Teeth

Oral Disease: Talking To Children About Tobacco

Over the past several decades, the number of adult smokers has substantially declined, however, the number of youths who smoke has remained unchanged. More disturbing is the fact that the use of snuff (also called chewing or spit) tobacco has tripled.

Tobacco use is the largest avoidable cause of death and disability in the United States. A tobacco-related illness or condition is the cause of 25% of all deaths in the United States. On average, each smoker who dies would have lived another 15 years if he or she were a non-smoker.

Smoking causes or contributes to the following diseases and conditions:

• Lung cancer
• Laryngeal cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Oral and oropharyngeal cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Pancreas cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Heart disease
• Emphysema
• Chronic bronchitis
• Stroke
• Slows wound healing
• Slows illness recovery

More than 9,000 individuals die each year from oral and oropharyngeal cancer. The risk of having oral and oropharyngeal cancer is much greater among tobacco users. Over 90% of people with oral and oropharyngeal cancer are tobacco users. The mouths of tobacco users have more red and white patches and nodules, sores, and ulcers that could be oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Tobacco users also have a higher incidence of gum disease, coated tongue, cavities, wearing of teeth, and gum recession.

Also consider that about 3,000 children begin to smoke each day. Approximately 90% of new smokers begin before age 20, and children and adolescents who smoke become addicted faster than adults do. Nicotine, a drug found in all forms of tobacco, is very addictive.

Pregnant women who smoke have a higher risk of having an unhealthy baby than those who do not smoke. New mothers who smoke put their babies at risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), poor lung development, asthma, and infections.

Tobacco use occurs in the form of cigarettes, cigars, or smokeless (spit) tobacco. Kids need to be educated about the harmful effects of tobacco. Bring up the subject of tobacco use. This can be done when you see or hear things about tobacco on TV, on advertisement billboards, t-shirts, hats, or in magazines. Explain that buying tobacco is a waste of money and that the tobacco companies target advertisements toward young people in order to hook another generation of tobacco users. Tell them tobacco kills about a half million people each year. More people die from tobacco-related illnesses than from car accidents, alcohol, AIDS, suicides, homicides, fires, and illegal drugs combined. Let kids know that tobacco use will stain teeth and dental fillings, cause their clothes and hair to smell, cause tooth decay, tooth loss, gum disease, bad breath, and will dull their sense of taste. Young people may be more receptive to the fact that their boyfriend or girlfriend may think they have bad breath or stained teeth than the number of deaths caused by tobacco use. Tobacco use does not improve athletic ability, increase popularity, or make one appear grown-up.

by Denise J. Fedele, DMD, MS

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Dental Sealants

Imagine a barrier applied to teeth that can effectively prevent tooth decay! That's the miracle-working power of dental sealants, a thin plastic film (usually either white, pink, orange, or yellow) applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth and other teeth with deep grooves. They act as a dental fortress, sealing out small food particles and cavity-causing bacteria.

Sealants Are Highly Effective

Scientific studies have proven that sealants are greater than 90% effective in protecting teeth from decay. As long as the sealant remains intact, cavity-causing food particles and bacteria cannot penetrate.

Durability

Sealants provide protection for three to five years. They serve as an excellent safeguard against cavities, especially critical for children in protecting their teeth during cavity-prone years. Adults also can benefit from sealant protection, particularly those susceptible to decay. Regular dental check-ups with your pediatric dentist are important for monitoring the durability of the sealants' bond.

Recommended for Children

Protecting children's permanent teeth from cavities is a dental health priority. Sealants are designed to protect the chewing surfaces of teeth since they're the most susceptible to the formation of cavities. Fluoride products and treatments don't provide the same type of cavity protection as do sealants. Sealants are superior in penetrating the grooved surfaces of teeth. Without the protection of sealants, 95% of people eventually get cavities in the grooved surfaces of their teeth. It makes sense to beat the odds and protect them from becoming a statistic.

How Are Dental Sealants Applied?

Sealant treatment is painless and quick, taking just a few minutes for each tooth. The first step is cleaning and rinsing the surface of the tooth. A cleansing gel is applied to the tooth, and 15 seconds later, rinsed away with water. The dentist then applies the sealant and it is allowed to harden, often times by using a special blue curing light. In less than an hour, teeth receive years of protection against cavities. Sealants have been approved by the American Dental Association Council on Dental Therapeutics since 1972, offering patients safe, effective, and painless protection against cavities. The latest generation of sealants actually can release fluoride if needed, to add double protection to the teeth.

by Brian J. Gray, DDS, MAGD, FICO

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.