Teen Tobacco Use Rising: Experts Warn of Immediate Oral Health Consequences:

Suspense crime, Digital Desk : India medical professionals express serious alarm for teens younger than 15 years of age who use tobacco. Indeed, the problem has recently worsened. These people's oral health is affected first. As we all know, tobacco and its effects on the lungs is a well-known fact. The mouth, however, serves as the initial point of contact for tobacco. For this reason, it is highly logical that early symptoms of damage will show in the mouth, making it a pivotal region of concern.

According to Global Youth Tobacco Survey in 2019, around 8.5% of teenagers aged from 13 to 15 use tobacco.

“It is both alarming and tragic,” says Dr. Amit Dave, Senior Consultant at Pulmonology, Sterling Hospitals, Vadodara.

“Adolescents have no clue their mouth is going through the first brunt like halitosis, discolored teeth, bleeding gums, and at times, early signs of oral cancer, which can show up in weeks or months,” shares the Consultant.

Worse Than It Appears

The use of tobacco increases periodontal disease, reduces the body’s defense against the mouth, and the rate of tooth loss and oral infections.

Dr. Jaineel Parekh, Orthodontist, Laxmi Dental Limited, Pune states, “This goes beyond aesthetics. It is a combination of health, self-confidence, and future risks of enduring complications.”

The peer pressure during experimentation and adolescent stage is reason enough for a teenager to reach out for a cigarette to “try”.

This combination of influences and strong existing social norms can shape a teen’s social identity at a very young age, ultimately leading to cigarette use.

Dave noted, “Some kids even start using tobacco before age seven.”

A large portion of your patients who are adult smokers also tend to start using tobacco before the age of eighteen, right Dr. Parekh?

“Yes, teenagers are at risk. Educating them at an early age can reduce the chances of a lifelong addiction,” he continues.

Why Teens Should Stay Away From Tobacco: Expert Reasons

Signs like bleeding gums, discolored teeth, foul smell, and sores can appear within weeks of starting according to Dr. Dave. Some might even progress to suffering from oral cancer. Tobacco can destroy the mouth in no time.

Equally damaging is chewing tobacco. It causes white patches, gum disease, tooth loss, and oral cancers, disproving the assumption that smokeless tobacco is safer.

Also heavily impacted are the lungs of teenagers. “The exposure of young lungs to toxins increases with every puff or chew. This greatly increases the chances of asthma, bronchitis, and chronic lung diseases,” cautions Dr. Dave.

Dr. Parekh believes that the risks should be taught to children before the temptation presents itself.

“Teaching oral health in primary schools helps prevent addiction,” he says.

Before it is too late, regular checkups can help identify lesions, gum disease, and decay. Dentists can also provide quitting support along with treatment referrals which makes patients more willing to quit.

There is a lot of help out there. Treatments such as nicotine patches, chewing gums, and medications like bupropion, as well as pulmonary rehabilitation, provide teenagers with an opportunity to quit.