Dental Did You Know: Second Hand Smoke and Periodontal Disease

A recent study found that periodontal (bone loss/inflammation) disease was found 1.6 times more frequently in non-smokers with self reported exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

Source: Sevels I, Clinical Abstracts, Ontario Dentist, July/August 2012, Vol 89, No 6, pg 38-39.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Smoking Rates for Canadians

Health Canada's Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey in 2010 reported that 17% of the population older than 15 years smoked. The rate among youth aged 15-19 was 12%.

Source: Dean B, Oral Health Month-Start a Conversation, Save a Life, Ontario Dentist, Jan/Feb 2012, Vol 89, No 1, pg 52-53.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Second hand (Passive) Smoking and Caries

Hi everyone, I saw this review of a study comparing children exposed to passive smoking (PS) and those that were not. It was found that:

1. The PS group had few caries free children
2. PS children had a mean DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth) score two times higher
3. PS children had higher counts of S Mutans and lactobacilli
4. PS children had declines in salivary pH, flow rate and buffering capacities

Source: Sevels I, Clinical Abstracts, Cigarettes and Cavities, Ontario Dentist, Nov 2009, Vol 86, No 9, pg 14-15.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Lung Cancer Risk After Quitting Smoking

The risk of lung cancer is reduced by 50% in recent quitters and 83% in long-term quitters.

Source: Smoking Cessation Rounds Vol 3, Issue 4 (Table 1) 2009, Available at http://www.smokingcessationrounds.ca

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Smoking Related Deaths in Canada

As recently as 1998, nearly 22% of all deaths in Canada were attributable to smoking.

Source: Smoking Cessation Rounds Vol 2, No 9, 2009.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Six Toxins Present in Tobacco Smoke

Health Canada has identified the top 6 toxins present in tobacco smoke that are likely to cause harm in humans:

1. Tar - a sticky black residue containing hundreds of chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic or classified as hazardous waste.
2. Nicotine - occurs naturally in tobacco plants but it's highly addictive and is also used as an herbicide and insecticide.
3. Carbon Monoxide - a deadly gas the reduces the ability of red blood cells to deliver oxygen to tissues causing most of its damage to your heart, brain and lungs.
4. Formaldehyde - a probable human carcinogen and registered pesticide.
5. Hydrogen Cyanide - one of the most toxic agents in tobacco smoke. Many of the short and long-term effects of cigarette smoke have been associated with this chemical.
6. Benzene - This is a Group 1 carcinogen and has been declared toxic by the Canadian Environmental Act. Benzene is believed to be harmful at any level of exposure.

Source: Clinical Tobacco Intervention Bulletin, Nov 2008, Vol 7, No 2, pg 4.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Smoking Perceptions Part III

24% of smokers think that the manufacturers label their products with "light" and "mild" as an advertising gimmick

Source: Clinical Tobacco Intervention Bulletin, Nov 2008, Vol 7, No 2, pg 1.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Smoking Perceptions Part II

59% of smokers found the terms "light" and "mild" confusing.

Source: Clinical Tobacco Intervention Bulletin, Nov 2008, Vol 7, No 2, pg 1.


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Light Tobacco Perceptions

47% of smokers think that "light" means lower in tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide.

Source: Clinical Tobacco Intervention Bulletin, Nov 2008, Vol 7, No 2, pg 1.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Nicotine as a Psychoactive Drug

Nicotine is a reinforcing drug which causes users to crave the drug despite the knowledge of the negative health effects.

Source: Clinical Tobacco Intervention Bulletin, Vol 7, No 1, pg 1, March 2008, http://www.ctica.org

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Smoking and Life Expectancy

You lose 3 months of life expectancy for every year of smoking past the age of 40.

Source: Clinical Tobacco Intervention Bulletin, Vol 7, No 1, pg 1, March 2008, http://www.ctica.org

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Smoking and Doses of Nicotine

A person who smokes a pack of cigarettes will inhale approx 70 000 doses of nicotine per year.

Source: Clinical Tobacco Intervention Bulletin, Vol 7, No 1, pg 1, March 2008, http://www.ctica.org

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Second-Hand Smoking and Death

In Canada, more than 1000 non-smokers die from as a result of second-hand smoke.

Source: CTI Update, Ontario Dentist, June 2007, Vol 84, No 5, pg 36.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100