Tobacco Free Is The Way To Be

First of all, let me put this out there... We DO NOT like tobacco in any shape or form!

As pediatric dentists and pediatric dental hygienists, we will screen your teen for tobacco use at their dental checkup appointments.  The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that we screen for tobacco use at each dental visit in order to help prevent pain, disability and death due to tobacco related illnesses.  We are also charged with the mission of helping our patients get treated for tobacco dependence and educating the public about the health related costs (both to our life and wallet) of smoking and chewing tobacco. 

So, you might be thinking…. “Why do pediatric dentists screen for tobacco use?”…  We treat kids, right?  Right! But, according to the American Caner Society, “Initiation of tobacco use begins before age 19 for 90 percent of adult smokers”  Wow!  Can you believe that?

In fact, about 3600 young people between ages 12-17 will try smoking everyday with 1100 young people per day BECOMING ADDICTED to smoking or tobacco use.  Because we provide dental care to patients from birth through age 18…. One of our responsibilities is to help prevent what is the ‘…single greatest avoidable cause of death’  according to the US Surgeon General’s report.

Here is a list of many health consequences from tobacco use that I am sure you are all familiar with:

·         Cardiovascular disease

·         Reproductive problems

·         Cancer

·         Pulmonary disease

·         Abdominal aneurysm

Did you know that exposure to SECONDHAND SMOKE imposes significant risks too? So often it is children who are exposed to secondhand smoke through no fault of their own. 

Infants and children who are exposed to secondhand smoke have a much higher risk of :

·         Heart disease and lung cancer risk increases up to 30% in nonsmokers (children)

·         Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

·         Respiratory infections

·         Ear infections

·         Pneumonia, allergies, asthma,

·         CAVITIES in baby teeth are related to secondhand smoke exposure

·         Weak tooth enamel  in baby teeth and adult teeth

Finally, what about THIRDHAND SMOKE?  Third hand smoke is the layer of toxins and residue that lays all over the home or car where smoking occurs. … After the cigarette has been put out!  Guess who crawls and plays around in the areas of the home and car where the toxic poisons of third hand smoke land?  Kids and babies…. Play and lay and crawl around and ingest TWICE the dust of an adult.  Studies have shown that children have Cognitive DEFICITS as a result of third hand smoke exposure in addition to the list of health problems listed above that the children will also get from second hand smoke exposure…

Bottom line… Please, do not use tobacco in any form… Please, do not allow anyone to use tobacco in any form around your children... Please, do not allow your children to use tobacco… (and we will help with that too! when screening for tobacco use when your kids visit with us for their checkups).    

#stayawayfromtobacco #dontsmoke #thisaintajoke

American Cancer Society. “Stay Away from Tobacco”. Website.  Accessed September 5, 2014.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.  Policy on Tobacco Use. Pediatric Dentistry 2013;35(special issue):61-64.

***Copyright 2014 Angelica Rohner Pediatric Dentistry