Conclusion
The dangers posed to oral health from smoking and chewing tobacco are well
documented within the dental literature but the public’s lack of knowledge of the risks is
a concern. Dentists are encouraged to disseminate information on the subject as widely
as possible and improve existing screening programmes to ensure that the public is made
aware of these risks, especially those within high-risk groups. It is vital that more is done
to ensure that public awareness of tobacco-related oral diseases continues to improve
and more people are regularly screened. The combination of providing opportunistic
advice, particularly to stop smoking, together with regular screening will reduce the overall
morbidity and mortality from oral cancer and other mouth disorders, and will dramatically
improve the quality of life of those people who are at greatest risk of these diseases.