Tobacco Use and Tobacco Cessation Facts & Stats

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 46 million Americans smoke cigarettes while nearly 9 million develop at least one serious illness in their lifetime due to smoking. CDC also reports that tobacco use causes more than 440,000 deaths each year in the United States. Smoking is the number one cause of death in America, killing more people than alcohol, illegal drugs, car accidents, suicide, homicide and AIDS combined.

Key Tobacco Use Statistics:

• Smoking is the most preventable cause of death in America
• Of the 46 million Americans who smoke, 70 percent say they want to quit
• One in every five deaths is attributed to tobacco use
• The chance of heart attack decreases 24 hours after ending tobacco use
• Nerve endings regenerate, enhancing the ability to smell and taste, within 48 hours after stopping tobacco use
• Two weeks to three months after quitting tobacco use, circulation improves, walking becomes easier and lung function improves
• One year after ending tobacco use, risk of coronary disease decreases to half that of a smoker
• Five years after quitting, the risk of stroke is reduced to that of a non-smoker
• Former pack-a-day smokers save about $120 to $190 per month
• Spit tobacco is not a safe substitute for cigarettes
• Spit tobacco contains nicotine, the same addictive drug in cigarettes
• Spit tobacco causes chronic bad breath, discoloration of teeth, gum disease and recession, tooth decay and tooth loss, high blood pressure and an increased risk for heart disease

Despite these alarming figures, dental hygienists can help educate their patients who use tobacco about the benefits of quitting through ADHA’s “Ask. Advise. Refer.” program. Here are some quick facts about quitting:

• Interventions can take as little as 30 seconds
• Requires no extra expertise to refer a patient to a quitline
• Smokers are more likely to quit if advised to do so by a health professional
• Most smokers want to be encouraged to quit by health professionals
• Currently, only one in four dental hygienists ask their patients if they use tobacco; the goal is to increase this number to 50 percent by 2006
• Numerous studies show that patients, even those who plan to continue smoking, prefer that health professionals advise them to quit
• Almost a quarter of patients in one study who had multiple quitline sessions were abstinent after 12 months
• Only 2.5 percent of patients are able to quit on their own

For more information about tobacco cessation or general oral health, visit www.adha.org or www.askadviserefer.org.

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