Worried about Chewing Tobacco? be aware of these effects
Chewing tobacco leaves are used by placing a chunk in between their gums and cheek, giving them a nicotine fix, this remains in their mouth, and chewing for quite some time. The other form is powdered tobacco, which is more common, they use it by placing a bit of the powdered on their lower lip, usually under the canine tooth. Cheeks gums and tongue frequently exposed to tobacco are the main areas of oral health problems.
This also causes tooth abrasion; hard chewing can cause the enamel to wear. Tobacco chewing also irritates the oral cavity where tiny portions of the tobacco and sugar (for processing to improve its taste) are caught in between the teeth and gums causing gum recession subsequently exposing the root surface causing sensitivity and tooth decay and infection. Chewing tobacco also causes bad breath and highly noticeable tooth discoloration.
Other dangerous effects of chewing tobacco
· Cancer-causing
The mouth is the part exposed to the carcinogenic microbial and immunologic effects of tobacco use. Oral cancer, for instance, is one of the most fatal cancers that affect the oral cavity affecting the lips, gums cheek, and tongue. This also increases the risk of cancer in the upper respiratory tract the pharynx, larynx, and esophagus.
· Nicotine dependence
Nicotine contents when chewing the tobacco is higher compared to smoking a cigarette or tobacco, this can increase your blood pressure and heart rate, making the user prone to cardiovascular diseases.
· Unhealthy eating habits.
Tobacco chewing damages your taste buds resulting in the user’s choice of saltier or tastier food that contains high salt content.
Symptoms you should be aware of:
· Sore in the mouth or lip
· Lump on the oral cavity or throat
· Unusual bleeding in the mouth
· Pain or numbness in the mouth
· Unusual bleeding, pain, or numbness in the mouth
· Pain when swallowing or chewing
· Hoarseness of voice
When should I see my doctor?
See your dentist or a doctor for early detection. These types of oral cancer are usually diagnosed until they are already in the advanced stage, so better to have it detected early, or quitting can reduce the chance of oral cancer.
What are the possible treatments?
Treatments may vary from surgery, radiation, or both, this will depend on the size, location, stage, and type of the tumor, some patients also undergo chemotherapy.
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