Tobacco and oral health--the role of the world health organization

TY - JOUR

T1 - Tobacco and oral health--the role of the world health organization

AU - Petersen, Poul Erik

PY - 2003

Y1 - 2003

N2 - In addition to several other chronic diseases, tobacco use is a primary cause of many oral diseases and adverse oral conditions. For example, tobacco is a risk factor for oral cancer, periodontal disease, and congenital defects in children whose mothers smoke during pregnancy. The epidemic of tobacco use is one of the greatest threats to global health; sadly the future appears worse because of the globalization of marketing. The World Health Organization (WHO) has strengthened the work for effective control of tobacco use. At the World Health Assembly in May 2003 the Member States agreed on a groundbreaking public health treaty to control tobacco supply and consumption. The treaty covers tobacco taxation, smoking prevention and treatment, illicit trade, advertising, sponsorship and promotion, and product regulation. Oral health professionals and dental associations worldwide should consider this platform for their future work for tobacco prevention since in several countries they play an important role in communication with patients and communities. The WHO Oral Health Programme gives priority to tobacco control in many ways through the development of national and community programmes which incorporates oral health and tobacco issues, tobacco prevention through schools, tobacco risk assessment in countries, and design of modern surveillance systems on risk factors and oral health. Systematic evaluation of coordinated efforts should be carried out at country and inter-country levels.

AB - In addition to several other chronic diseases, tobacco use is a primary cause of many oral diseases and adverse oral conditions. For example, tobacco is a risk factor for oral cancer, periodontal disease, and congenital defects in children whose mothers smoke during pregnancy. The epidemic of tobacco use is one of the greatest threats to global health; sadly the future appears worse because of the globalization of marketing. The World Health Organization (WHO) has strengthened the work for effective control of tobacco use. At the World Health Assembly in May 2003 the Member States agreed on a groundbreaking public health treaty to control tobacco supply and consumption. The treaty covers tobacco taxation, smoking prevention and treatment, illicit trade, advertising, sponsorship and promotion, and product regulation. Oral health professionals and dental associations worldwide should consider this platform for their future work for tobacco prevention since in several countries they play an important role in communication with patients and communities. The WHO Oral Health Programme gives priority to tobacco control in many ways through the development of national and community programmes which incorporates oral health and tobacco issues, tobacco prevention through schools, tobacco risk assessment in countries, and design of modern surveillance systems on risk factors and oral health. Systematic evaluation of coordinated efforts should be carried out at country and inter-country levels.

KW - Advertising as Topic

KW - Female

KW - Health Policy

KW - Health Promotion

KW - Humans

KW - Marketing

KW - Mouth Abnormalities

KW - Mouth Neoplasms

KW - Oral Health

KW - Periodontal Diseases

KW - Population Surveillance

KW - Pregnancy

KW - Pregnancy Complications

KW - Public Health

KW - Risk Assessment

KW - Smoking

KW - Smoking Cessation

KW - Taxes

KW - Tobacco

KW - Tobacco Industry

KW - World Health

KW - World Health Organization

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 15643759

SN - 1602-1622

VL - 1

SP - 309

EP - 315

JO - Oral Health & Preventive Dentistry

JF - Oral Health & Preventive Dentistry

IS - 4

ER -