| In the United States alone, tobacco use
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| | Tobacco use is also related to many other
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| is responsible for one in five deaths,
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| | problems, including cancers of the
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| primarily from cardiovascular diseases,
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| | larynx, esophagus, pancreas and bladder,
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| lung cancer, other types of cancer and
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| | chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
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| respiratory diseases. In North America,
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| | chronic bronchitis and other respiratory
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| approximately 75% of all oral cancers are
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| | diseases, gastric ulcers, low birth
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| associated with tobacco use and alcohol
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| | weight babies and spontaneous abortions.
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| consumption. At least 80% of oral cancer
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| | All tobacco products, cigarettes,
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| patients are smokers, and oral cancer
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| | smokeless/spit tobacco, cigars, and
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| patients who continue smoking after
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| | pipes, are associated with oral cancer.
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| treatment are much more likely to develop
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| | Logic alone indicates that tobacco use
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| another head or neck cancer.
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| | has effects on teeth, gums, tissues and
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| Tobacco use is also linked to other types
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| | bones. Cigarettes and other types of
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| of oral health problems, ranging from
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| | tobacco products contain many irritants,
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| serious (increased risk of periodontal
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| | toxins, and carcinogens. Pipe and cigar
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| disease) to social (bad breath)
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| | tobacco contain sulfur. More than
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| including:
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| | one-fifth of the content of some brands
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| - Gingivitis
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| | of smokeless tobacco is sugar. Smokeless
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| - Periodontal disease
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| | tobacco also contains over 2,000
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| - Increased severity of periodontal
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| | chemicals, many of which have been
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| disease
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| | directly related to causing cancer.
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| - Gum recession
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| | The most significant preventive measure
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| - Sticky tar deposits on teeth
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| | used to prevent the health problems
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| - Brown staining on teeth
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| | caused by tobacco use is to stop using
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| - "Smoker's palate" (a red inflammation
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| | tobacco products. The risk of developing
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| on the roof of the mouth)
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| | oral cancer drops rapidly when a smoker
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| - Delayed wound healing
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| | ceases tobacco use. After ten years of
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| - Tooth decay (possibly a secondary
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| | not using tobacco, an ex-smoker/user's
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| effect due to large amounts of sugar in
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| | risk of oral cancers is about the same as
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| smokeless products or less frequent
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| | that for someone who has never smoked.
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| dental check-ups)
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| | To stop smoking, or using tobacco
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| - Tooth abrasion (possibly due to the
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| | products, is much more easily said than
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| sand and grit in processed tobacco; also
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| | done. The nicotine found in substantial
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| seen in pipe smokers, from clenching the
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| | amounts in tobacco products is widely
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| pipe between teeth)
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| | considered to be a powerfully addicting
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| - Diminished blood flow to oral area
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| | drug. But it's important to remember
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| - Candidasis
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| | that, while it will be difficult, ceasing
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| - Sinusitis
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| | to use tobacco has immediate health
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| - Altered taste
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| | benefits, including increased life
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| - Bad breath
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| | expectancy and reduced risk of tobacco
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| - Black hairy tongue oral lesions
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| | related diseases and conditions.
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| - Precancerous changes in soft tissue
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