Habits to Make Habits to Break

Habits to Make
Habits to Break
Every year, over 3 million people
worldwide die as a result of tobacco.
That many coffins would stretch
end-to-end across Canada from
Victoria to St. John’s.
N
icotine is one of the most addictive substances known.
The use of cigarettes and other tobacco products is
harmful to your health and may be deadly.
This is an informative and factual booklet covering the risks of
all types of tobacco on oral health.
In Canada alone, thousands of
people die as a result of tobacco.
This is as devastating as 3 school
buses full of kids driving over a cliff
every single day of the year!
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WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING?
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Cigarettes produce smoke from the tobacco and additives.
This smoke contains poisonous gases, liquids and breathable
particles that are harmful. It contains over 7,000 chemicals
including at least 70 that can cause cancer.
g
Cigars, although viewed by many as “glamorous”
tain
and less dangerous than cigarettes, contain
most of the same cancer-causing
substances. A single large cigar can
contain as much tobacco as an entire
pack of cigarettes.
Pipes contain the same harmful
tobacco. If you smoke but don’t inhale,
you are breathing in second hand smoke. Y
You are at an
increased risk of lip, mouth, tongue and other cancers,
when you smoke a pipe.
“Exotic” forms of smoking tobacco:
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Clove cigarettes, also called kreteks, contain 60% to 70%
tobacco and 30% to 40% ground cloves, clove oil and other
additives. The chemicals in cloves have been connected to
cases of asthma and other lung diseases. These are not a
safe alternative.
Hookah (or narghile) smoking involves burning flavoured
tobacco in a water pipe and inhaling the smoke through a
long hose. This method is common in Asia and the Middle
East and has become popular among young people.
Bidis are called “the poor man’s cigarette”. These are the
rage among teens. Made from the flakes and dust of dark
tobacco leaves, strong flavouring is added such as vanilla,
licorice, strawberry, cinnamon or clove to mask the poor
quality of the tobacco.
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IS THERE A SAFE WAY
TO USE TOBACCO?
NO! Any amount of tobacco use is dangerous.
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Smoking less does not make it safer. Research has found
that even smoking as few as 1 to 4 cigarettes a day can
have serious health consequences.
Switching to a low tar and nicotine brand does not make
it safer. Often people end up smoking more cigarettes.
The risk of lung cancer is not any lower in smokers of
“light” cigarettes.
Herbal cigarettes, even though they do not contain tobacco,
also produce tar and carbon monoxide and are dangerous
to your health.
There is no such thing as safe smoking.
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IS CIGARETTE SMOKING
REALLY ADDICTIVE?
Y
es! Nicotine in cigarettes is an addictive drug for 3 main
reasons:
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When taken in small amounts, nicotine creates pleasant
feelings that will make you smoke more.
Because nicotine affects the chemistry of the brain and
central nervous system, it can affect your mood and nature
of the smoker.
When you try to quit, you can suffer withdrawal symptoms
such as nervousness, headaches and trouble sleeping.
Anyone who starts smoking is at risk
of becoming addicted to nicotine.
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PICK YOUR POISON
T
he main active ingredient in cigarettes is nicotine.
Cigarette smoke and spit tobacco are full of
poisons:
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Benzene – found in gasoline
Formaldehyde – used to preserve dead bodies
Methanol – wood alcohol
Acetylene – the fuel used in welding torches
Ammonia – cleaning products
Carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide – both are
poisonous gases
Toluene – found in paint thinners
Lead – found in batteries
Arsenic – rat poison
Propylene Glycol – lock de-icer
Cadmium – batteries
Nicotine – an active
ingredient in bug spray
Butane – lighter fluid
Benzoapyrene – tar
This is one of thee
most potent cancercercausing chemicals
als
in the world.
DAMAGING EFFECTS
OF TOBACCO ON YOUR
APPEARANCE
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Premature wrinkling of the skin
Bad breath
Stained teeth
Gum disease
Tooth loss
Bad smelling clothes and hair
Nicotine stained fingers
BENEFITS OF QUITTING
THE TOBACCO HABIT
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Breathing easier
Food tastes better
Sense of smell returns to normal
Brighter smile
Healthier gums
Fresher breath
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SECOND HAND SMOKE
Who does it hurt?
E
nvironmental tobacco or second hand smoke is made up
of the smoke exhaled by a smoker and the smoke from the
burning end of the cigarette, cigar or pipe. It consists of the
same 7,000 chemicals that the smoker is exposed to including
many that cause cancer.
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Two thirds of smoke from a cigarette is not inhaled by the
smoker, but enters the air around them.
Second hand smoke has at least twice the nicotine and tar
as the smoke inhaled by the smoker.
Scientific evidence clearly shows that people repeatedly
exposed to second hand smoke are more likely to develop and
die from:
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Heart problems
Lung cancer
Breathing problemss
It can also cause::
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Chest infections
Ear infections
Excessive coughing
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Throat irritation
SHE’S SMOKING FOR TWO
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Nicotine, carbon monoxide and other harmful chemicals
enter the pregnant woman’s bloodstream, pass directly
into the baby’s body and prevent the baby from getting
essential nutrients and oxygen for growth.
Some research suggests that smoking during pregnancy
and exposure to second hand smoke during childhood may
cause the child to be shorter and smaller in stature as well
as slower learners in school.
How does smoking affect pregnant women
and their babies?
Smoking during pregnancy is linked with a greater
chance of:
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Miscarriage
Premature delivery
very
Low birth weight
ht
Stillbirth
alate
Cleft lip and palate
Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome (SIDS)
DS)
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CLEFT LIP AND PALATE
T
he risk of this disfiguring facial birth defect rises
with the number of cigarettes that a mother-to-be smokes
each day.
The deformities are marked by obvious gaps in either the lips
and nose or the roof of the mouth, due to incomplete fusing.
Besides affecting a child’s appearance, cleft lip and palate may
affect their ability to breathe, eat, hear and speak.
Correcting the defect involves many operations and years
of therapy, but can still leave scars, speech problems and
emotional damage.
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IT’S TOXIC FOR CHILDREN
C
hildren are more vulnerable to second hand smoke
because they breathe faster and can absorb higher amounts
of smoke.
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Infants and children are more likely to suffer chronic
respiratory illness, impaired lung function, middle ear
infections, food allergies and Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome (SIDS).
Children also get the message that smoking is OK.
Third Hand Smoke
Third hand smoke can
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remain long after
smoking has stopped.
Toxins from smoke
cling to the smoker’s
hair, clothing,
curtains, carpeting,
furniture and other
surfaces. Children
are especially at risk
because they may breathe
athe in toxins when
crawling and playing near these surfaces.
Parents who smoke increase the
chances that their children will develop
asthma by 200 to 400 percent.
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SPIT TOBACCO
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Spit tobacco or snuff is not a safe substitute for cigarettes.
It is a type of tobacco product that is placed inside the
mouth to suck and chew (referred to as a “wad”). This
gives the user a continuous “high” from nicotine. It has
over 3,000 chemicals, including 28 that can cause cancer.
It also contains three times the amount of nicotine found
in cigarettes.
Spit tobacco is sold in 4 forms:
1. Chew: a leafy form of tobacco sold in pouches. Users keep
the chew between the cheek and gums for several hours at
a time.
2. Plug: chew tobacco that has been pressed into a brick.
3. Snuff: a powdered, moist form of tobacco sold in tins.
Users put the snuff between the lower lip or cheek and the
gum. As well, some users will sniff it. Using snuff is also
called “dipping”.
4. Snus is a Swedish type of smokeless tobacco that is now
sold here. It comes in teabag-like pouches that a user puts
between the upper lip and gum. The user leaves snus in
place for up to 30 minutes and discards without spitting.
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A person who uses 8 to 10 dips
or chews a day, receives the same
amount of nicotine as a heavy
smoker who smokes 30 to 40
cigarettes!
T
here are many terms used to describe spit tobacco such
as oral, smokeless, chewing and snuff tobacco. The use
of spit tobacco by any name is a significant health risk. The
amount of nicotine absorbed is usually more than the amount
delivered by a cigarette. The juice from the spit tobacco is
absorbed directly through the lining of the mouth. This creates
sores and white patches that often lead to cancer of the mouth.
Other effects of spit tobacco:
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Chronic bad breath
Stained teeth and fillings
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Gum disease
Tooth decay
Tooth loss
Tooth abrasion
Loss of bone in the jaw
aw
High blood pressure
Risk of heart disease
Stomach cancer
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Betel Quid (Paan)
Betel quid is a product of India, Sri Lanka, Africa and Asia.
It is produced commercially or made at home. It consists of
a dried paste that often includes tobacco, areca nuts, catechu,
mineral lime and scent or flavouring. The Paan is placed in the
mouth, usually between the gum and cheek and then gently
sucked and chewed.
The effects of Betel Quid:
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Prolonged use of Betel quid can cause a thinning of the
lining of the mouth.
A common result is oral submucous fibrosis; stiffness of
the cheeks which can make opening the mouth difficult.
White scars may appear on the cheeks, lips or roof of the
mouth.
It can lead to cancer of the mouth, esophogus and stomach.
PERIODONTAL DISEASE
How many teeth are in a
pack of cigarettes?
A one-pack-a-day smoking habit can cost you the
loss of at least two teeth every ten years.
Smokers are about two times more likely to lose
their teeth than non-smokers.
Smoking is the most important modifiable risk factor for
gum disease.
Smokers in general have poorer oral hygiene and more
frequently show signs of gingivitis than non-smokers. With
increasing tobacco use their oral hygiene deteriorates.
Smokers are 2 to 14 times more likely to develop periodontal
disease than non smokers.
Healing time for extractions, implants and gum surgery is
prolonged in tobacco users.
Tobacco users tend to have more plaque, tartar and stain on
the tooth surfaces as well as below the gum line. This causes
the gums to become very red, swollen and bleed easily.
With continued tobacco use and lack of oral care, gum disease
will lead to severe gingivitis, advanced periodontal disease
and ultimately tooth loss.
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ORAL CANCER
Smoking and alcohol combination
accounts for about 75% of all
oral and throat cancers!
T
he incidence of oral cancer in Durham Region is similar to
Ontario with approximately 10 in 100,000 people affected.
Oral cancer is most frequently diagnosed in older adults and is
3 to 4 times more frequent in men.
Risk Factors:
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Tobacco use if combined with heavy alcohol
consumption.
Excessive sun exposure to the lips.
Research suggests that the bacteria from periodontal
disease could be toxic to
o
surrounding cells and
ad
produce changes that lead
directly to oral cancer.
Using chewing tobacco,,
betel quid or snuff.
Human Papillomavirus
(HPV) is known to
cause oral cancer in
younger adults with
no history of
smoking.
Photo courtesy
of NSTEP
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Signs and Symptoms:
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A sore on the lip or in the mouth that does not heal.
A lump or thickening on the lip, on the gums, in the
mouth or throat.
A white or red patch on the gums, tongue or lining of
the mouth.
Unusual bleeding, pain or numbness in the mouth.
A sore throat that does not go away, or a feeling that
something is caught in the throat.
Difficulty or pain with chewing or swallowing.
Loose teeth or dentures that fit poorly or become
uncomfortable.
A change in the voice and/or pain in the ear.
Problems speaking clearly.
Smoking shortens life expectancy
male (13.2 years)
female (14.5 years)
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DON’T GET SUCKED IN!
A
s no smoking laws sweep the nation and cigarette sales
continue to fall, tobacco companies are devising other
ways to make tobacco appealing. There is an attempt to move
tobacco into offices and restaurants where people want a
nicotine fix but can’t light up.
The tobacco industry is targeting you and children as its next
group of tobacco users.
Cigarette packaging is still misleading smokers.
A 2009 University of Waterloo health study found that:
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The prettier the package, the safer the smokes appear to
the buyer.
Seventy nine percent of the participants felt the lighter
blue packages would have a lower health risk than the
darker blue ones.
Packages with words like “smooth and filter” make the
purchaser believe the cigarettes are less dangerous to their
health.
The truth is that all cigarettes are
equally hazardous regardless of
the filter type, the colour of the
package, or the wording.
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THE DECEPTION CONTINUES….
E-Cigarette:
Inventors have created an electric cigarette which gives a
nicotine hit while still managing to avoid the smoking ban.
The small white stick, which looks like a cigarette, contains
a chamber that vaporizes pure liquid nicotine into a puff of
steam. This is not a healthy alternative to smoking since it
gives the smoker an instant nicotine hit and feeds the addiction.
Advertising deception:
Be aware of hidden messages that try to promote healthy
tobacco use. The tobacco industry is aggressive in trying to
find new ways to communicate its safe smoking message amid
severe limitations.
Cigarette makers target
rg
rget
women:
Tobacco companies
use marketing strategies
es
including “female brands”,
nds”,
which have contributed
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to the association of
smoking with female
liberation, glamour,
success and
thinness.
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WHY DO WOMEN SMOKE?
T
obacco companies have developed some of the most
aggressive and sophisticated marketing campaigns for
reaching and influencing women and girls.
A master of public relations who
was hired by the tobacco industry,
employed women to dress like
feminists and march in the Easter
parade of 1929, in New York City.
These women were also paid to
smoke and refer to their cigarettes as
“torches of freedom”.
According to Health Canada, most women smoke for one or
more of these reasons:
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ak
To relax and take a break
To be sociable
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To deal with stress and
depression
To fight feelings of
helplessness
To deal with anger
and frustration
ht
To avoid gaining weight
eir lives
To feel in control of their
To feed their addiction
QUITTING TOBACCO USE…
DON’T GO IT ALONE
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Although tobacco products are extremely addictive,
thousands of people have successfully quit the habit. It
may take several attempts to quit using tobacco products.
Don’t give up!
Support is available from many sources such as, medical
doctors, dentists, hygienists, support groups and help lines.
There are many products on the market to help you quit,
such as nicotine patches, gums etc. Seek the advice of a
health professional.
Using products like spit tobacco, herbal cigarettes or
electric cigarettes are not a healthy substitute to help you
quit smoking.
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ONLINE SUPPORT
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quit4life.com
quitnet.com
smokershelpline/online.ca
gosmokefree.ca
healthyontario.com
oralcancerfoundation.com
TELEPHONE COUNSELING
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Smokers’ Helpline
1-877-513-5333
Durham Region Health Connection Line
1-800-841-2729
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Oral Health Division
905-723-1365 or 1-866-853-1326
durham.ca/oralhealth
If you require this information in an
accessible format, contact 1-866-853-1326.
May14-01