The study was conducted by doctors at Life First, a foundation which offers tobacco treatment services to individuals.
According to a recent study, footfalls of patients addicted to smokeless tobacco are more in comparison to more in comparison to patients addicted to smoking at Tobacco Cessation Centers (TCC) set up in dental clinics. The study was conducted by doctors at Life First, a foundation which offers tobacco treatment services to individuals.
"Out of the total cases, the majority of the cases are related to smokeless tobacco," said Dr DY Patil of Dental College & Hospital at Pimpri, Pune.
Smokeless tobacco is a tobacco product that is used by means other than smoking. Their use involves chewing, sniffing, or placing the product between gum and the cheek or lip. Quitting smokeless tobacco use is as challenging as smoking cessation.
"Smokeless tobacco can harm both your oral health and overall health by increasing the risk of mouth cancer, heart disease and strokes. The cases of smokeless tobacco are more in the rural population where chewing tobacco is a common addiction," said Dinesh Jagiasi, senior manager of Life First.
Many people who chew tobacco or dip snuff think it's safer than smoking. However, it is as dangerous. Chewing or dipping carries risks like cancer of the mouth, a decay of exposed tooth roots, white patches or red sores in the mouth that can turn to cancer.
"However, we have witnessed a 22 per cent success rate for tobacco cessation in dental OPD setting at Pune. To make the process easier, we follow up with rural population through phone calls so that they don't have to travel for follow-ups," he added.
According to doctors, early intervention and prevention awareness is a major topic which the centre tries to highlight during counselling. Dr Himanshu Gupte, head of the initiative, said, "Role of oral healthcare providers is of prime importance in relation to smokeless tobacco use."
HEADS UP
- Dangers of smokeless tobacco may go beyond the mouth. It might also play a role in other cancers, heart disease and stroke
- Smokeless tobacco contains more nicotine than cigarette
- Quitting smokeless tobacco is as challenging as smoking cessation
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