Passive Smoking – Not So Passive
Now that we are spending more time at home, due to Covid, many people may be non-smokers living with smokers. Passive smoking has always been a risk, more so than smokers.
Cigarettes have filters, passive smokers do not. They inhale the all the carcinogens of cigarette smoke in an enclosed area.
Passive smokers could have a 51% higher risk of developing oral cancer.
Just a thought… do we wear masks in such situations; leave the room; tell the smoker to leave the room; tell the smoker to go outside? It is definitely a health risk.
Oral cancers – including lip, oropharynx and oral cavity cancers.
Risk factors of oral cancers
- Smoking tobacco
- Use of smokeless tobacco
- Betel quid chewing
- Consumption of alcohol
- Sunlight
Data around the world shows 33% of male non-smokers and 35% of female non-smokers were passive smokers. This data indicates it’s 40% for children.
More worrying, the exposure duration of more than 10 or 15 years increases the risk of oral cancer to more than twice when compared with non-exposed individuals.
Early Detection
At Seymour Dental we encourage regular visits to not only to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy but the whole of the mouth and lips are checked as well. This enables the dentist to look for the early signs of oral cancer.
Be careful and be not only Covid safe, but smoke safe.
Need an Appointment?
If you’d like to book an appointment with the dentist at Seymour Dental then call us in Dulwich Hill, Sydney on (02) 9564 2397 or
contact us
Next week
Covid now in May 2021