Tobacco use and your oral health Published Dec. 8, 2011 By Senior Airman Victoria Vetter 2nd Dental Squadron BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- In the United States we have an estimated 66.8 million tobacco users, many of whom have oral diseases or manifestations such as hairy tongue, periodontal disease and oral cancer. Hairy tongue occurs when excess tobacco use causes buildup of keratin on your taste buds. It is actually a lengthening of papillae which are bumps on the surface of the tongue. Often times, the ends of the papillae get rubbed away by food, but sometimes they grow much longer than normal making the tongue look "hairy". The extra tissue can get stained by tobacco and become yellowish brown or black. Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. Research has shown that tobacco use is one of the most significant contributing factors for the disease. Some signs of periodontal disease include, but are not limited to, red, swollen or tender gums; gums that are receding or pulling away from the teeth; pus between your gums and teeth; and persistent bad breath. Oral cancer is the uncontrollable growth of cells that invade and cause damage to surrounding tissue. It appears as a growth or sore that does not go away. Oral cancer includes cancer of the lips, tongue, cheek, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses and pharynx. Some signs include swelling or thickening, lumps or bumps, rough spots, crusts or eroded areas on the lips, gums or other areas inside the mouth. Also, white and red patches in the mouth, soreness or the feeling that something is caught in the back of the throat could be symptoms. If you have any of these changes, you should consult your dentist for further examination. A 2011 study shows that American smokers spend more than $80 billion on cigarettes per year and $2.6 billion on smokeless tobacco, ultimately costing $72.7 billion to care for people with health problems caused by tobacco. The Department of Defense alone spends more than $1.6 billion per year on tobacco-related medical care, hospitalizations and lost days of work. About 32 percent of active-duty military personnel use some form of tobacco. Multiple studies have found that military personnel who smoke are less productive, sustain more injuries, have poor vision and do not perform as well on physical fitness tests relative to nonsmoking personnel. Here at Barksdale we have many resources available to you and your family. The 2nd Dental Squadron, 2nd Medical Group and non-profit organizations are here to assist in your tobacco cessation efforts when you are ready to take that step. Resources include: - Tobacco cessation programs at the Health and Wellness Center at 456-6010 - Contacting your primary care manager - Department of Defense tobacco cessation program has resources available at ucanquit2.org - Web-based cessation programs are available at lungusa.org - Contact the Louisiana Tobacco Quit line at 800-548-8252