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75% of oral cancer cases are due to tobacco use

 World No Tobacco Day 31/05

World No Tobacco Day

More than 8 million people die from tobacco in the world each year. Of that figure, 7 million are due to direct tobacco consumption, while about 1.2 million deaths are due to exposure to smoke. On World No Tobacco Day, celebrated on May 31, DENTAL-OFFICE.ORG recalls tobacco's direct effects on oral health.

According to 2020 data, 19.8% of the population over 15 years of age smokes daily, 2.3% are occasional smokers, and 22% are ex-smokers. These data maintain the downward trend in the number of smokers in recent years. In this regard, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates in the report on trends in tobacco consumption prevalence in 2000-2025 a reduction in tobacco consumption worldwide of 23% by 2025.

Despite the positive data on the decrease in the number of smokers, last year, 50,000 people died in our country due to smoking, and more than 8 million worldwide.

Effects of tobacco on oral health


Every year there are between 300,000 and 700,000 new cases of oral cancer in the world

Also, people exposed to tobacco smoke have a 51% higher risk of developing oral cancer, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal.

In addition to the predisposition to oral cancer, tobacco has other adverse effects on our oral health:

  •  Stains: tobacco stains the teeth and causes stains on the gums and even on the prostheses of people who smoke.- It causes halitosis. Tobacco alters the oral bacterial flora, giving rise to bad breath in smokers who, in most cases, do not detect it because their mucous membranes are accustomed to it.
  •  It causes periodontal disease: Tobacco is associated with gum and periodontal problems, increasing up to 7 times the risk of periodontal disease.
  •  Decreases the perception of tastes and smells: Once tobacco consumption ceases, it is gradually recovered.
  •  Delays the healing of wounds in the mouth: Tobacco favors infections, causing oxygen not to reach the tissues and hindering recovery.
  •  It causes the failure of implants: Tobacco can cause inflammation in the tissues surrounding the implant, conditioning its duration.
  •  It alters the composition of saliva. It destroys the protective molecules of saliva and makes it easier for food or drink particles to remain in the mouth, which can cause oral problems.
  •  Predisposes to fungal infection. The components of tobacco alter the oral microflora, causing the appearance of fungi.

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