Good oral health and the use of tobacco in any form do not go together. The use of tobacco is harmful to health and oral health and is a common cause of addiction, preventable illness, disability and death. The use of tobacco leads to an increased risk for oral cancer, periodontal disease and other serious oral diseases and it adversely affects the outcome of oral healthcare.
Evidence shows that brief interactions, direct advice, supportive material and follow-up given by oral health professionals have a significant impact on the patients’ use of tobacco products. Helping patients to stop using tobacco products is one of the most important services oral health professionals can provide for their patient’s overall health and an obligation for ethical professional behaviour.
FDI World Dental Federation strongly supports and encourages all activities aimed at preventing initiation, reducing consumption, and controlling second-hand smoke caused by tobacco products. FDI endorses and promotes all articles of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
FDI urges its National Dental Associations and all oral health professionals to:
- Take decisive actions to reduce tobacco use and nicotine addiction among the general public;
- Integrate tobacco cessation advice and counselling into daily practice;
- Integrate tobacco-related education and training into all pre and post graduate dental teaching and education programmes;
- Actively support the implementation of the WHO FCTC;
- Apply the principles outlined in the Code of Practice for Oral Health Professional Organizations in Tobacco Control;
- Be a role model for patients and the public by not using tobacco products; and
- Be involved in national programmes conducted in their country.