There is a belief in some areas that good oral hygiene can offset the destructive effects of spit tobacco. That belief could not be farther from the truth. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, a government agency dealing with oral health, “there is no evidence that brushing and flossing will undo the harm that dip and chew are doing to your teeth and gums.”

Spit tobacco can be many different forms. It may be in powder form such as snuff. It could be “chew” tobacco in a leaf form, loose or twisted, dry or moist. But whatever the name, it is still tobacco.

The tobacco industry prefers to call it smokeless tobacco. The name gives lulls you into the feeling that this type of tobacco consumption is not as bad as cigarettes or other types of tobacco smoking materials. Do not be fooled. This type of tobacco can be devastating to not only your dental hygiene, but also your health in general.

Consider some of the things that spit tobacco can cause.

Cancer of the mouth tops the list as the most dangerous of the effects. It is no respecter of age. This self-induced disease attacks the young as well as the old.

The U.S. Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, M.D., in 1986 declared that “smokeless tobacco represents a significant health risk. It is not a safe substitute for smoking cigarettes. It can cause cancer…”

Since those that chew or dip leave the tobacco in their mouth for extended periods of time, usually in the same place, this can cause the gums to pull away from the tooth in that area. When the gums pull away from the tooth, sensitive tooth roots are exposed providing an access to the root for any number of problems; sensitivity, decay and infection just to name a few.

Another of those problems is the side effect of the sugar contained in spit tobacco. The longer sugar remains in the mouth the more damage it will do. The extended periods that spit tobacco remains in the mouth provide a perfect opportunity for the sugars to work on the tooth root, causing massive tooth decay.

Many sports figures, as positive influences to youth, are speaking out against spit tobacco. Torii Hunter, Minnesota Twins American League winner of the Gold Glove award, six years in a row has come out strong against spit tobacco. Olympic gold medal winners, Picabo Street (alpine skiing) and Dominique Dawes (gymnastics) have lent the weight of their names to the campaign against spit tobacco along with the mega-star Jackie Chan.

Spit tobacco does cause harm, sometimes deadly, to whoever may use it. No matter how much we brush or floss; the effects cannot be overcome unless the habit is stopped.

If you are currently using spit tobacco and want to quit, there are some excellent guidelines given by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Check out their website for a step-by-step guide: http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DiseasesAndConditions/SpitTobacco/QuittingGuide

Follow the guidelines, quit or help someone quit and let me know so that I can celebrate with you. This is a dental problem that we have the power to end.

Cannabis is a plant that we commonly call marijuana, ganja in herbal form or hashish in resinous form. It has been commonly used way back prehistoric times. However, its use became prevalent in the 20th century when cannabis was utilized for religious, spiritual, medicinal and even recreational purposes. It was then that its possession, use or sale was prohibited. To date, the use of cannabis for drug use or cannabis addiction remains illegal all throughout the most parts of the world.

Psychologically, cannabis is already a recognized addictive drug. Cannabis addiction occurs when one’s mental and physical state are prominently altered due to its consumption. Although in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), there is no cannabis withdrawal syndrome, evidences show that cannabis addiction induces similar withdrawal symptoms to other drug addiction.

But unlike tobacco, cannabis addiction has not shown to cause lung cancer, chronic pulmonary disease or emphysema. It does not also cause birth defects to expectant mothers who are hooked to cannabis. Basically, cannabis addiction is less hazardous than addiction to tobacco, prescription drugs or alcohol.

Different users may experience different effects in cannabis addiction. Factors such as the dose, its potency, its chemical composition or its method of consumption are what elicit different levels of high in cannabis addiction. Long-term effects include, a feeling of euphoria, intense relaxation, laughter and giggle fits, increased appreciation for music, and either a feeling of intense pleasure or anxiety.

Forgetfulness, laziness, distorted perception, rambling, troubled concentration, inability of motor coordination, increased heart rate, spiritual talking and paranoia are some of the short-term effects of cannabis addiction. It is also shown to manifest its ill effects on the hippocampus (the part of the brain linked with learning and memory), thereby causing short-term memory impairment. Cannabis addiction has also been associated to other mental illnesses, from psychotic episodes to clinical schizophrenia.

Nevertheless, there is always a way out of cannabis addiction. The steps may be simple yet hard and requires extreme sense of commitment and dedication to move out of this addiction. Be willing to feel whatever painful feelings and take part in being responsible for them. Instead of avoiding them with your addiction, face them. Be conscious that you want to know what it causing your pain. Discover the thoughts and actions causing your pain. It should just come from within. Perseverance, will and devotion is all that it takes.

When the skin just becomes too itchy, too rash-like, or starts to have sores that weep, it may be more than just dry skin. Eczema is a term used to describe a wide variety of skin conditions that consist of dry skin, cracking, bleeding, itch, and oozing sores. One must determine what kind of eczema one is experiencing, and then they are better able to address it and begin to heal.

One type of eczema is atopic eczema. It’s common in infants, which is why this form is sometimes called infantile eczema. It’s believed to be hereditary, especially if members of the same family suffer from hay fever or asthma. Atopic eczema can present itself on the face, scalp, neck, inside of elbows, behind the knees, and on the buttocks.

One way to determine the severity of the eczema is by process of elimination. Many physicians believe that infant eczema manifests itself due to external irritants or diet. By eliminating dairy (in most cases), infant skin tends to clear up or develops fewer breakouts. A certain type of laundry detergent may also trigger rashes and eczema in infants, which is why it’s important to use gentle detergent, and use natural materials that are friendly to young skin.

Contact dermatitis is a common disease in many developed countries. Eczema can be a delayed reaction to an allergen that the skin has been exposed to, for example poison ivy. This form of eczema is curable, as one only needs to avoid the irritant, once it is traced to the source. With the environment being as it is today, contact dermatitis is the most common occupation skin disease among the population. Toxins in the air, water, ground, and food can all bring on eczema as the body is reacting to something unnatural.

Another form of eczema is Xerotic eczema. It’s common among the older population, as skin tends to become drier as it ages. In this case, this is dry skin turned to eczema because of the level of severity. It gets worse in the winter, and the legs are most often affected. Skin becomes cracked, dry and hard. Seborrhoeic dermatitis is another form of eczema. It’s common in infants, and it’s also known as cradle cap. Dandruff is also another name for it.

Eczema is bothersome, but it is treatable. Diet is essential. One must start consuming more natural foods and oils, and exercise and fresh air help rid the body of toxic build up. Eczema may also be a result of a food allergy, so it’s important to go through a process of elimination to discover what foods may be triggering the flare-ups.

Foods such as eggs, dairy, nuts, wheat and caffeine are common culprits. Eczema, like psoriasis, responds well to light therapy. Exposing the affected areas to the sun is helpful, but one must be sure not to overexpose and have the skin turn cancerous.

Gentle facial cleansers and body soap, as well as laundry detergent, must be used instead of the harsher products. Regularly changing bed sheets is good practice as well, as people who suffer from eczema sometimes react to the excrement left over by house dust mites.

Try to stay away from cortisone and steroid creams, as it tends to thin the skin out over time. Natural creams such as calendula cream, or urea cream, or plain petroleum jelly, may help more and doesn’t have any side effects.

Eczema may over time disappear, but for those who have it chronically, it can be controlled. Do the research, go to the doctor for advice, and you’re well on your way to a better quality of life.