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Community Corner

Today, March 20, 2014 is World Oral Health Day!

March 20, 2014 marks World Oral Health Day (WOHD)!  The focus of this year's WOHD is to remind youth and adults about the importance of oral health.  Do you want to know one of the best ways to protect your teeth and gums?  Do not start using smokeless tobacco products or quit if you are currently using them.

Smokeless tobacco products come in a variety of shapes, sizes and flavors.  Peach, apple and berry-flavored smokeless tobacco products may seem harmless.  However, they are far from it!

Smokeless tobacco can cause serious damage to your mouth and gums.  The juices from chewing tobacco comes in contact with the gums, lips, tongue, cheeks and back of the throat and can result in the pre-cancerous condition, leukoplakia.  Leukoplakia appears as a white patch or leathery-looking wrinkled skin that may progress and become cancer.

Cancer of the oral cavity can quickly spread to other parts of the body.  Smokeless tobacco users have a higher chance of cancer of the pharynx, esophagus and larynx.  Gum disease, gum recession, tooth decay and tooth loss can result from continued use of smokeless tobacco products.

Quitting smokeless tobacco is not easy but it can be done.  If you currently use smokeless tobacco and are ready to quit, please call the Wisconsin tobacco Quit Line 1-800-QUIT NOW for free assistance.

For more on local tobacco prevention efforts, please contact the Kenosha, Racine, Walworth (KRW) Tri-County Tobacco Free Coalition at (262) 358-5990 and jmsieracki@gmail.com or visit www.krwcoalition.webs.com.

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