Oral Effects of Smoking
Here are some common tissue changes seen frequently as a result of smoking.
A.B.C. These are "smokers' patches". Depending on how a cigarette is habitually smoked, the spot where the smoke first strikes is most likely to produce either white or white/red changes. These "smokers' patches" if caught early enough in their precancerous phase can be easily and quickly removed in the office. "Smokers' patches" occur most frequently on the soft palate, floor of the mouth, tongue, and cheeks.

D.E. Unfortunately these two individuals have invasive cancer (cancer which is now invading beneath the skin surface). Their treatment now requires more extensive and expensive therapy which will require surgery in a hospital location as well as radiation and chemotherapy.
F. Tobacco in the form of snuff (spitting tobacco) can cause its own long term health problems. In this patient the moderate long term use of snuff has caused severe gum recession, staining of his teeth, and most importantly a precancerous white change in his lip and gum tissue. Continued use of snuff will lead not only to the loss of his front teeth but also to the eventual development of invasive cancer.

Here is a picture of oral damage done by using spit tobacco.

From The National Spit Tobacco Education Program website: www.nstep.org

Back to Links Page

Tobacco Clinic Home