Oral Health and Smoking - Essay Example

Oral Health and Smoking Introduction Tobacco is one of the many sources of diseases known to man in modern times, being one of the biggest factors in inducing cancer, heart disease and strokes. Aside from these health problems, smoking tobacco or cigarettes, gives the smoker most likely oral health problems such as oral cancers, gum disease, tooth discolouration and slower wound healing after a surgery. (1) Selected Target Group Now, my aim for this study is to identify to a certain group of smokers the potential problems that they have to face with the continued use of tobacco, cigars or cigarettes. By using different methods of giving information, I would like to convey to them the possible health difficulties that they will most likely face and ultimately, persuade them to drop the habit. The group that I have specified are my friends who are heavy smokers and who seem to ignore the dangers posed by their habits, I would like to enlighten them on the dangers that they imbue on themselves with smoking. Teaching Materials For this study, I will identify six resources that will greatly help in illustrating how dangerous smoking is. Mostly, it will be through the form of websites, journals, case studies and videos that greatly focus on the oral health problems that stem from smoking tobacco. First is an Australian Dental Journal (1999) with the title of the article being ‘Dentist’s attitudes and practices towards smoking’, which in a nutshell aims to identify the importance of the oral health guardians in the dissemination of information and to the persuasion of dropping the smoking habit. (1) To further deepen the study on this article, the researchers used a survey among dentists and their interaction with patients on smoking. The aim was to establish the dentists’ current practice regarding discussing smoking with patients, to explore dentists’ perceptions of the barriers to discussing smoking with patients and to explore dentists’ interest in discussing smoking with patients. During the study, the reasons why smokers cannot stop the habit was identified. (1) Now, regarding my view if this study is effective in persuading smokers to stop smoking, it certainly is. To whom do we entrust our oral health care better than our dentists? If they advise patients on the situation of their oral health, they would most probably listen. And given their knowledge on the situation, it would really be foolhardy for patients to ignore their diagnosis. Another published article about the dangers of smoking tobacco is: ‘Tobacco or Oral Health’ made as a guide to health professionals on the dangers of smoking and what they can do for their part, this guide almost has it all. It gives a background on how the whole smoking business started, how it impacts the economy, environment and lives, who are the major movers in the anti-tobacco campaign and what they are doing about the problem. This was a joint effort done by the World Health Organization (WHO) and FDI World Dental Organization (FDI). This guide focuses mainly on what health professionals must or can do against the continuous abuse on smoking. It is divided into five chapters, with topics starting off on the history of tobacco production and identifying the main concern about the tobacco issue, then moving on to the roles of the different health organizations, after that, it tackles on what dentists’ or dentists’ organizations can do to help stop patients from smoking then lastly recommendations for the said oral health organisations. (2) This published guide has a powerful effect on convincing smokers to stop once read, because aside from being made by WHO and FDI who are major organisations in the field of health and oral health, it very easy to read with bulleted points rather than prolonged essays which tend to turn off the readers. Complete with illustrations that gives a stronger impact on the effects of smoking. As stated earlier, this was made as a guide for oral health professionals on how to deal with their patients about smoking and its effects, but with its very friendly format, it is a useful tool to distribute to the public. This guide has also has an in depth look on the different smoking situations in other countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Germany and others. This guide, when distributed to a certain group of people as a supplementary read, backed up by dentists’ recommendation would be an informative and convincing material in battling smoking. Now, most materials focus on how dentists’ can help to battle the war on smoking, but what if health professionals themselves are into the habit. This study by a certain Dr. Zulqifar Ali, (3) presented to the WHO as a study on the tobacco related behavior of dental students in Bangladesh. It provides a good angle in viewing the problem and why sometimes, even dentists’ cannot persuade patients to stop smoking. That is because a great deal of these professionals is into smoking themselves. Therefore, diminishing their credibility in convincing patients and promulgating proper information against smoking. This study also points out why dentists’ cannot persuade patients. They feel that they lack the special skills in dealing with smoking issues of patients. And moreover, these health professionals also are into the habit that’s why their persuasion, if not forced, is just half-heartedly done. With a topic focusing on Bangladesh’s situation on tobacco, it states that most dentists in Bangladesh are smokers themselves. It said that I must be the dentists’ themselves that must serve as role models to shape a healthier future. Results gathered from this study show that dentists’ and other health professionals in Bangladesh are highly motivated to quit smoking in order to promote a positive attitude in battling the smoking issue. (3) Now this study, when presented and discussed to a certain group of smokers, would most likely just give them either more trust to their dentists because of their positive attitude against smoking OR they would just continue to heed warnings because even their dentists are smokers thus making them less credible in giving advice against the effects of smoking. Aside from published reading materials and guides in oral health care, there are other mediums in conveying the message of the dangers of smoking. Websites that promote the well being of our oral health have been growing in numbers. One the most noticeable websites is www.oralcancer.org. oralcancer.org (4) presents testimonials from famous celebrities that are affected by oral health problems brought upon by tobacco smoking. Celebrities such as Blythe Danner, mother of Gwyneth Paltrow and wife of the late Bruce Paltrow who passed away due to oral cancer. The website utilizes the streaming of videos to bring to viewers different insights on the personal battles of people against oral health problems. Mostly, the videos shown are the stories told by oral cancer survivors or other oral health problems. Bordering on the dramatic, the videos would most likely approach your emotions rather than present to you the scientific facts. There are other links on the site which focuses on the facts. A certain link gives the viewers the statistics on tobacco related deaths or problems in America. The percentage of smokers in the country is also presented and how many people in tobacco related health problems die annually. Quotes are also present with a surreal humour such as ”Oral cancer can literally wipe the smile off your face..”. (4) Oralcancer.org (4) also presents the problem brought by smoking to women and tobacco producers. The website shows the persuasion of tobacco companies of women to smoke their “healthier” brand of cigarettes. www.oralcancer.org (4) strongly battles not only the use of tobacco, but the producers itself. When presented to smokers, the site will have a huge impact because of many factors. The use of celebrities are proven to increase the powers of persuasion, and the staggering statistics would really make someone doubt about the continuous use of tobacco. Also on this site, different articles about the effects of tobacco are present. Issues about tobacco producers targeting their market to women and children, also it features various articles that tackle on nicotine addiction and its alternatives. (4) All in all, www.oralcancer.org is a well informed website giving visitors their own choice of how to view information about oral health diseases. As presented before, the World Health Organization along with FDI published a guide for oral health professionals. Aside from that printed guide, the WHO also issued a statement about the objectives of the WHO Global Oral Health Program on its official website. The website presents to the viewer the methods and strategies that WHO would probably use in regulating the use of tobacco worldwide. WHO mainly focuses on the community based development and awareness to reach out and control the consumption of tobacco. A heavier emphasis on the implementation on global policies in oral health promotion has been stated as well as prevention on the different kinds of oral health diseases. In my opinion, I really don’t think that this would be a preferred ‘weapon’ in the battle against smoking. Rather, it is just a presentation on how the WHO would go about in implementing their provision in regulating the use of tobacco or banning it totally. (5) Another media would be videos. One is an Australian ad that shows an oral cancer victim and at the end showing a hotline for quitting. (6) This shows visually the possible effect on our appearance and how it will affect our lives dramatically. This will definitely be an eye opener for the viewers. The video also provides a hotline for those who are ready to drop the habit. Another is a testimonial video by Jack Klugman, a 3-time Emmy award winner, who is an oral and throat cancer survivor. (4) Having Mr. Klugman speak on the effects of smoking and providing his own testimonial would be an effective tool to persuade smokers to drop the habit. Being a respected actor and a survivor of cancer, his opinion would be listened to. Teaching Plan The venue would be in a comfortable environment to have the group relaxed in preparation for graphic images related to oral health diseases. The discussion would start by engaging the group through asking the when and why they started smoking. These include the pleasure they attain from doing so. Next is a presentation of facts on tobacco and cigarette consumption and the number of deaths and diseases, starting with the minor ones moving to the most fatal, associated with smoking. General health problems caused by smoking will be shown and then will be narrowed down to dental health. Then a presentation from the various websites and video clips would be made as to make them see the reality of the effects of smoking on their oral health. Another alternative would be to invite a speaker (for example Jack Klugman) or any individual who experienced first hand the adverse effects of smoking on dental health and then arouse hope from the group that the habit can stop. The discussion would end by presenting cessation methods and providing help lines for problems related to oral health. In the end the talk should be able to make the group aware that smoking can gravely affect a person’s dental health, and this is not limited to discoloration of teeth and gums and bad breath but can actually cause horrendous mouth disorder. And finally convince them to drop the habit. Recommendations For the group that would like to address their smoking as a serious problem, they should come forward and ask for assistance as early as possible, as to prevent more serious conditions on their oral health as well as their general health. It is not advisable to wait for something to happen, prevention is better. There are a lot of foundations and even health practitioners who are willing to listen and advise on this matter. References 1. Kerrie C, Trevor H, Vicki S, Rob SF. Australian dental journal. Aust Dent J [0045-0421] 1999 Mar [cited 2007 Sep 18]; 44(1):46-50. Available from URL: http://www.ada.org.au/App_CmsLib/Media/Lib/0610/M29820_v1_632975388966847500.pdf 2. Dr Rob HB editor, Dr Habib MB editor, Prof Poul EP, Dr Carmen AL, Annemieke B. An advocacy guide for oral health professionals [Online]. 2005 [cited 2007 Sep 18]; [66 screens]; Available from: URL: http://www.ada.org.au/App_CmsLib/Media/Lib/0610/M20191_v1_Tobacco_or_Oral_Health.pdf 3. Dr Zulfiqar A. Health professionals in tobacco control: evidence from global health professional survey (gphs) of dental students in bagladesh 2005 [Online]. 2005 Apr 29 [cited 2007 Sep 18]; [17 screens]; Availabe from: URL: www.searo.who.int/en/Section1174/section1462/pdfs/surv/GHPS-Bangladesh-report-2006.pdf 4. The oral cancer foundation [Online]. 2007 [cited 2007 Sep 18]; Available from: URL: http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/ 5. World Health Organization [Online]. 2007 [cited 2007 Sep 18]; Available from: URL: www.who.int/entity/oral_health/objectives/en/ 6. Sp0ng. Graphic australian anti-smoking ad [Online video]. 2006 Jul 26 [cited 2007 Sep 18]; Available from: URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YjrkBYDDQM Read More