Tobacco consumption/ Italian study: Is oral health damage minimized through alternative products?
2024-09-02 11:07:17
TiranaPost
Oral health remains a neglected topic when discussing the consequences of smoking. According to the Founder of the Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) in Italy, this is due to the fact that smoking is mainly associated with serious diseases such as cancer, heart and respiratory diseases.
For a long time, dentists have been less aware of the damage that smoking causes to oral health, especially in managing gum damage or tooth loss. Polosa points out that because of the many factors that affect oral health, including diet, oral hygiene practices and genetic predispositions, it is difficult to single out smoking as the main cause of tooth decay.
“Historically, dentists have been reluctant to invest their professional efforts in helping patients quit smoking. However, there is now growing awareness of the benefits of quitting smoking in improving oral health. More and more dentists are promoting strategies for quitting smoking and advocating the use of alternative nicotine products without tar," said Polosa.
To examine changes in oral health parameters and dental esthetics in smokers switching to tar-free alternative nicotine products, CoEHAR launched the SMILE study earlier this year. This study, supported by Global Action to End Smoking, aims to measure risk reduction, harm diversification and smoking cessation combined in a single approach. This makes the SMILE study of added value to other trials, which typically focus only on smoking cessation.
The international study included several countries of the world, some developed, some still in the development process to compare the dynamics, but also to measure the effectiveness of alternative products. Italy was chosen as the coordinating country in the study.
Polosa argues that studying THR in a context dominated by traditional cigarette use can provide valuable insights into cultural attitudes towards smoking cessation and alternative nicotine delivery systems.
An interesting aspect of the study is the focus on aesthetics. According to Polosa, teeth stains and unpleasant tobacco smells are a concern for young smokers who aim for a beautiful smile. In the age of social media, the desire to look attractive is a powerful motivator. But the approach has changed and negative messages about the dangers of smoking are not effective in encouraging smoking cessation. Instead of discouraging images that reflect the harm, audiences are more motivated by the positive effects of quitting smoking, such as posts with smiling people and happy faces.
The results of the study are expected in 2025, with improvements in the oral health and tooth color of smokers switching to tar-free nicotine alternatives.
"Everyone wants to have healthy teeth and a bright smile, as it helps in interpersonal contacts and increases value in the labor market. The desire for an attractive appearance, including a bright smile, is often a powerful motivator, especially for those who are heavily involved in social networking platforms,'' says Polosa.
