Tobacco Use

leukoplakia Tobacco in ANY form, including cigarettes and chewing tobacco, can seriously harm your child’s health and cause irreversible and incurable damage. Smokeless tobacco, known as chew or snuff, is sometimes used by teens who think that it is safer than cigarettes. But studies show that chewing tobacco may be more addictive than cigarettes and also more difficult to quit.

ATTENTION TEENS! – Did you know that ONE can of snuff per day delivers as much nicotine as 60 CIGARETTES?? In as little as 3-4 months, smokeless tobacco can cause periodontal disease and cause pre-cancerous lesions called “leukoplakia”.

Tobacco Stains Tobacco also destroys your smile! If you want a healthy, attractive smile, smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco is definitely NOT an option –

If your child is a tobacco user, you should watch for the following signs of oral cancer:

  • A sore that will not heal
  • White or red leather-like patches on the lips and/or tongue
  • Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or lips
  • Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue, or a change in the way the teeth fit together.

Some early signs of oral cancer are usually not painful, so it’s easy to ignore them. If it’s not caught early, oral cancer can require extensive, sometimes disfiguring, surgery and can even kill.

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