NNTPP LISTSERV

NNTPP is a program of the Health Education Council

 

Friday September 10, 2004   

 

 

In this edition:

 

            1) Smokeless Tobacco Poses Serious Cancer Risks to Users

            2) The Association between Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Primary Tooth Caries

            3) Website Offers Help to Smokeless Tobacco Users

            4) Upcoming Events

 

1) Smokeless Tobacco Poses Serious Cancer Risks to Users

By Darla Carter / (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal

September 7, 2004

 

It’s a habit that can leave you with bad breath, mouth lesions and a disfigured face, yet an estimated 7.8 million Americans use smokeless tobacco.

 

Tobacco use carries a risk of oral cancer, but users sometimes avoid seeing a dentist, who can detect early signs, says dentist Dr. Lee Mayer.

 

“A lot of times, they don’t appear in a dentist’s office about anything in their mouth until they either have a toothache, or they have some type of growth or something’s going on, and they realize that there’s a problem, and they get scared,” says Mayer, director of community dental health at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. “This is especially true with the younger crowd.”

 

To view the full article please visit http://www.detnews.com/2004/health/0409/07/e01-264950.htm

 

2) The Association between Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Primary Tooth Caries

Shenkin JD, Broffitt B, Levy SM, Warren JJ.

J Public Health Dent. 2004 Summer;64(3):184-6.

OBJECTIVE: Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has been associated with a number of negative health outcomes for exposed children. The goal of this study was to assess the association between ETS and dental caries in a pediatric population. METHODS: This study included 637 Iowa Fluoride Study children whose parents provided socioeconomic information, completed at least three questionnaires during the first year of life, and had a primary dentition exam at age 4-7 years. Households reporting in all questionnaires that someone smoked in the home were categorized as regularly smoking homes. Socioeconomic status (SES) was divided into three groups (low, middle, and high) based on family income and mother's education. Children were classified as having caries if any of the primary teeth had fillings or cavitated lesions at the primary dentition exam. RESULTS: Overall, children residing in regularly smoking homes had a higher prevalence of caries. For the middle SES group and overall, the children from smoking homes had a significantly higher prevalence of caries compared to nonregular/nonsmoking homes (52% vs 24%, P=.05 and 44% vs 25%, P=.002, respectively). After adjusting for age, SES, tooth brushing frequency, total ingested fluoride, and combined intake of soda pop and powdered drink beverages, the relationship of smoking and caries still remained significant (odds ratio [OR]=3.38; P=.001). CONCLUSIONS: Environmental tobacco smoke was associated with an increased risk of caries among children.

3) Website Offers Help to Smokeless Tobacco Users

Individuals who are addicted to the nicotine in smokeless tobacco can find help on a new website called Chewfree.com, the East Carolinian .  Created by the Oregon Research Institute (ORI) and funded by the National Institute of Health, the website provides smokeless-tobacco users with information and resources. Visitors looking for help can submit an e-mail to Chewfree.com and an ORI representative will e-mail back a password that provides access to the site's many resources.

4) Upcoming Events

 

Centerforce 5^th Annual Inside/Out Summit

“Models for Change – Delivering Services to Those Affected by Incarceration”

San Francisco Airport Marriott, Burlingame, CA

September 11-15, 2004

Pre-summit course for Clinicians:  September 11-12, 2004

 

Proven Strategies to Reduce Smoking among Youth: Putting Research into Action in Rural Schools and Communities

Morgantown, West Virginia

Sept. 13 and 14, 2004

http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/odais/conference.htm

 

LCAT (National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention 3^rd Annual National Conference

“Tobacco Prevention:  Reducing the Impact of Chronic Diseases”

Sheraton Old Town, Albuquerque, NM

September 23 & 24, 2004

 

Ending Health Disparities Conference

Winston-Salem, NC

September 27-29, 2004

-Speaker proposals are due June 11, 2004

For more information please contact Ruth Cole Burcaw at (336) 945-9288 or hdconference@quantumevents..com

 

132^nd American Public Health Association Conference

November 6-10, 2004 - Washington, DC