World No Tobacco Day - HKU Faculty of Dentistry

World No Tobacco Day 2024

Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference

May 31 is the World No Tobacco Day. This year, once again, World Health Organisation (WHO) and public health champions will come together to raise awareness about the harmful influences of the tobacco industry on youth. World No Tobacco Day 2024 will give a platform to young people across the world, who are calling for the tobacco industry to stop targeting them with products that are harmful to their health. Young people globally are calling on governments to adopt policies that shield them from the manipulative practices of tobacco and related industries, including the relentless marketing of their dangerous products through social media and streaming platforms.

Quitting Smoking Benefit Oral Health

Smoking & Oral Diseases

Smoking & Oral Cancer

Smoking is one of the factors that cause oral cancer. Oral cancer refers to the malignant tumour that develops in any part of the mouth such as the lips, the tongue, the roof and the floor of the mouth. The majority of tobacco products contain the same carcinogenic chemicals like formaldehyde. When people smoke, these hazardous substances will first pass through the oral cavity, the throat and eventually reach the lung.

On prolonged exposure to smoke, the hazardous substances in smoke will pass across the epithelial cells of the oral mucosa into the human body, which may cause changes in the oral cavity and is likely to increase the risk of oral cancer. Also, there is a dose-effect relationship between the frequency of smoking and the probability of developing oral cancer. In other words, the more one smokes, the higher the probability of he or she developing oral cancer.

Smoking & Tooth Decay

Smokers are more prone to tooth decay than non-smokers. Dry mouth is a common side effect of tobacco consumption, which may cause tooth decay. Besides, enamel hardening caused by tobacco use tends to make the enamel more brittle. The underlying dentin may become exposed to acidic substances, which increases the risk of tooth decay. On top of that, smoking will increase one’s number of decayed teeth.

Non-smokers may also be affected by smokers and have an increased risk of tooth decay. Studies reveal that breathing second-hand smoke may increase the risk of tooth decay in non-smokers. It is worth noting that preschool children are more susceptible to tooth decay if their parents smoke during pregnancy. The probability of tooth decay depends on the time and frequency of smoking. The higher the frequency of smoking of the parents, the higher the probability of the children having tooth decay. Therefore, pregnant women and women of childbearing age need to quit smoking.

Smoking & Periodontal Disease

Smokers have a higher risk of having periodontitis than non-smokers. Periodontitis is usually caused by the dental plaque that attaches to the tooth surface. With poor oral hygiene, dental plaque may accumulate in the gingival margin and interdental areas, and the bacteria in the plaque may secrete toxins that irritate the tissues surrounding the teeth. Also, the dental plaque may be calcified by saliva, forming rough calculus. In this way, more bacteria may accumulate on the calculus and cause gingivitis.

Studies highlight that frequency of smoking is associated with the amount of calculus. The more one smokes, the more the calculus he or she has as well as more rough surfaces for bacteria to accumulate. Besides, smokers tend to have a weaker immune system that they are more prone to infection of periodontal tissues. Therefore, smokers have a greater risk of having gum diseases.

Smoking & Tooth Loss

Tobacco is the major factor causing damage to periodontal tissue, which may lead to tooth loss. When the situation of periodontitis worsens, periodontal tissues such as the gums and alveolar bone may become seriously eroded, causing shrinkage of alveolar bone.

The tooth may gradually lose its support, become loosened, move frequently and even fall off. There is also a dose-effect relationship between smoking frequency and damage of alveolar bone. In other words, people who smoke more appear to have a more serious problem of erosion of alveolar bone. Fortunately, smoking cessation can reduce the risk of tooth loss significantly. Studies show that the number of smokers that have teeth loss is two times more than that of successful quitters. Therefore, smoking cessation can greatly improve teeth health.

Smoking & Tooth Discolouration

Apart from the aforementioned oral diseases, tobacco tar may cause discoloration of teeth, bad breath and discoloration of the tongue. Also, tobacco may affect the taste and smell sensation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will e-cigarettes cause oral cancer?

Traditional cigarettes are not the only factor that causes oral cancer. Other tobacco products, including dipping tobacco and dissolvable tobacco products, can also increase the risk of developing oral cancer.

How does secondary smoking harm children’s oral health?

Exposure to secondary smoking may not directly cause dental caries, but the chemicals inhaled by children can potentially affect the development of their teeth and gums, making them more susceptible to cavities. Additionally, secondary smoking may influence the growth of bacteria and cells, leading to an imbalance in oral cavity microorganisms and impairing salivary gland function due to oral membrane inflammation. Moreover, secondary smoking may indirectly contribute to dental caries formation by changing the bacteria levels in children's mouths. Children are especially vulnerable to the negative effects of secondary smoking, as their immune systems and oral tissues are still developing.

Will kissing smokers cause oral cancer?

There are recent studies investigating the effects brought by second-hand smoke, especially on the family members or people with close contact with the smokers. According to the root cause of cancer, breathing while kissing may indeed increase the risk of contracting cancer. However, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), one will not contract cancer simply through kissing.

How should smokers control their gum diseases and maintain oral health?

Smoke cessation would be the most effective way. Dentists could help smokers to alleviate their symptoms of gingivitis by plaque control. Smokers should also brush their teeth twice a day, use dental floss and antiseptic mouthrinse, which helps to prevent the accumulation of plaque and protect the gums. Smokers should also visit the dentist regularly to have dental check-ups and professional cleaning of the teeth in order to maintain their oral health.

Can smoking cessation heal oral diseases?

Even though smoking cessation can lower the risk of having gum diseases such as tooth loss, it takes a few months time for our oral cavity to heal. Also, oral cancers can take years to develop, so you may also develop oral cancer even after you have quit smoking. Therefore, smoking cessation can only lower the risk of smokers having oral diseases.

When should I seek professional advice?

The best way to prevent oral diseases is to visit the dental team for oral cancer screening regularly, say, once a year. Early prevention is the key since this type of disease is hard to self diagnose.

Smoking Cessation