ADA for No World Tobacco Day

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Australian Dental Association Inc. (ADA) mark "World No Tobacco Day" today by highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

Dr Peter Alldritt, Chair of the ADA's Oral Health Committee, said: "Sixty-three percent of all deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases, with tobacco as the greatest risk factor. One of these non-communicable diseases is oral cancer. Oral cancer is one of the least understood conditions amongst the general public and yet, each day, an average of three Australians will be diagnosed with it."

Prolonged tobacco use in all its forms (smoking, chewing, smokeless tobaccos, betel nut and bidis) is still the most prevalent cause of oral cancer. The ADA also warns Australians that they can still be at risk of oral cancer even if they do not smoke. For more information, see www.oralcancerfacts.com.au

Smoking is also one of the major risk factors for periodontal (gum) disease. This causes bone loss around the teeth, leading to looseness of teeth and often requiring extraction of teeth.

Smoking also causes ugly staining and yellowing of teeth as well as causing halitosis (bad breath).

Dr Alldritt continued, "While the Australian Government has made significant inroads to deliver on the theme of this year's No World Tobacco Day, passing the landmark tobacco plain packaging legislation and defeating the tobacco industry's high court challenge, the ADA cautions against complacency.

"We must all continue to live up to our responsibilities to implement programmes to educate the community about the general and oral health risks of tobacco and, where possible, reduce tobacco supply and consumption.

"We should all play a role in putting out the message that when it comes to tobacco, we don't need to see it, don't need to smell it, don't need to chew it and don't need to smoke it."