World No Tobacco Day 2025: Health risks of tobacco use, from gum issues to tooth decay, cancer, more

Health risks of tobacco use: Tobacco harms oral health fast: Bleeding gums, bad breath, stained teeth, and sores can appear within weeks of use (Image: Canva)

Teenagers are picking up tobacco earlier than ever, and their mouths are paying the price. While lung damage is widely recognised, many forget that the first place tobacco harms is the mouth, leading to bleeding gums, bad breath, and worse.

In India, nearly 8.5 percent of teens aged 13 to 15 already use tobacco, according to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (2019), says Dr Amit Dave, Senior Consultant, Pulmonology, Sterling Hospitals, Vadodara. “The numbers are alarming and tragic. What many teenagers don’t realise is that their oral health is one of the first victims of tobacco. Within weeks or months of use, they may face bad breath, stained teeth, bleeding gums, and in some cases, early signs of oral cancer,” he adds.

Tobacco damages gum tissue, weakens the immune response in the mouth, and leads to tooth loss and infections. “This isn't just about looks. It’s about health and confidence,” says Dr Jaineel Parekh, Orthodontist, Laxmi Dental Limited, Mumbai.

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The teenage years are a critical time when lasting habits, both good and bad, begin to form. Peer pressure, curiosity, and the desire to fit in often drive early experimentation. “In fact, some children start using tobacco before age seven,” says Dr Dave.

Agrees Dr Parekh. He says, “Studies show a significant portion of daily smokers start before age 18. Teenagers face intense pressure, sometimes from friends, other times from their own curiosity, to try new things. This makes them especially vulnerable during this stage of development. Because the habits formed during this period tend to stick, early education is essential.”

Here are reasons, suggested by the two experts, why one should stay away from from tobacco:

• Tobacco harms oral health fast: Bleeding gums, bad breath, stained teeth, and sores can appear within weeks of use. Some sores can even become cancerous.

• Smokeless is not harmless: Chewing tobacco leads to white patches, gum disease, tooth loss, and oral cancers. It’s just as dangerous as smoking.

• Teen lungs suffer too: Tobacco affects more than the mouth. “Every puff or chew exposes the lungs to harmful chemicals that cause airway inflammation,” says Dr Dave. This increases the risk of bronchitis, asthma, and long-term lung diseases.

• Early education works: “Teaching oral health in primary schools can prevent addiction before it starts. Children need to know the risks before tobacco becomes a temptation,” says Dr Parekh.

• Dentists can detect early warning signs: Regular check-ups help spot lesions, decay, and gum disease early. Dentists also offer cleanings, counselling, and referrals to quitting programmes.

• Ask for help: Treatments like nicotine patches, gums, and medications such as bupropion can help teens quit. Supportive therapies and pulmonary rehab protect long-term health.