Hello Marble Falls dental friends. Today’s topic is about the dangers of smokeless tobacco. Cigarette sales at most Marble Falls stores have decreased in the past decade, but some Marble Falls tobacco consumers have switched to smokeless products instead. There is a common misconception in the Horseshoe Bay area, especially among teens, that chewing tobacco isn’t as harmful. This is absolutely not true. Other types of tobacco, such as spit, snuff, chew, or pinch, are just as deadly as conventional cigarettes.
At Ritchie Dental Group, we see patients encounter serious consequences due to smokeless tobacco use. Because most symptoms of use occur in the mouth, we are usually the first to notice a decline in oral health in Marble Falls. Oral cancer, mouth lesions, gum disease, and tooth decay are the most common dental problems caused by smokeless tobacco in Texas. Keeping a pinch of tobacco between your cheek and gum all day is worse than keeping candy tucked in there. The tobacco contains almost as much sugar as the candy but delivers harmful chemicals as an added bonus. The dangers are two-fold, the tobacco erodes the teeth and also causes the gums to pull away from teeth.
Oral cancers can be as deadly as lung cancer and usually require surgery. If the Texas patient is fortunate and the cancer is successfully removed with surgery, the collateral damage to the face, neck, or jaw is not pretty. These are the main dental risks of smokeless tobacco. In addition, we should also mention that there are two other major concerns, addiction and heart disease.
At Ritchie Dental Group in Marble Falls, we perform oral cancer screenings and oral examinations. To receive more specifics, or schedule an appointment, call 830-693-8833. We also offer services such as teeth whitening, emergency dentistry, and orthodontics. If you want to quit using smokeless tobacco products to improve your oral health in Marble Falls, we recommend that you communicate with our team, your primary care doctor, or your pharmacist.
Contact Ritchie Dental Group:
830-693-8833
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
1000 Marble Heights Dr, Marble Falls TX
Marble Falls, Texas
78654
