World Dentistry Against Tobacco

FDI, World Dental Federation is an organisation that has one hundred and nine Member Associations, representing more than half a million dentists.

entistry is a unique partner in tobacco prevention and counselling as the dentists meet most children and adolescents once a year, can show them the harmful effects of tobacco in the mouth and thus can make the most of a teachable moment.

FDI, World Dental Federation is an organisation that has one hundred and nine Member Associations, representing more than half a million dentists. This big and important organisation has taken two important steps in the fight against tobacco use

FDI Section World Dentistry Against Tobacco was formed at the 83rd FDI Annual Congress in Hong Kong in October 1995. The agenda for action from 1995 expresses the possibility for every dentist in the world to be given the opportunity to work against tobacco use and the ambition of the section to create a basis for the anti tobacco work in world-wide Dentistry. Thus, the section wrote the FDI Council for approval of a FDI Position Statement on Tobacco in accordance with the agenda for action.

The Position Statement on Tobacco was approved by the FDI Council in May 1996 and was also carried unanimously by FDI General Assembly A in Orlando during the 84th FDI annual congress in September 1996.

The following document is a unique and far-seeing document. It gives the dental profession a firm basis for tobacco cessation services, tobacco prevention and counselling and also new opportunities for the future

The document reads as follows;

FDI position statement on tobacco

Tobacco in daily practice

The use of tobacco is harmful to general health, as it is a common cause of addiction, preventable illness, disability and death. The use of tobacco also causes an increased risk for oral cancer, periodontal disease and other deleterious oral conditions and it adversely affects the outcome of oral health care.

The FDI urges its Member Associations and all oral health professionals to take decisive action to reduce tobacco use and nicotine addiction among the general public.

The FDI also urges all oral health professionals to integrate tobacco use prevention and cessation services into their routine and daily practice

Tobacco in all education

Brief interactions, for example, by identifying tobacco users, giving direct advice, supportive material and follow up, all have a significant impact on the patients use of tobacco products.

The FDI urges all oral health institutions and all continuing education providers to integrate tobacco-related subjects into their programme

Protect the children

The adverse consequences of environmental tobacco smoke are particularly severe for children--and life long.

The FDI strongly endorses and promotes public and professional education and policies, that prevent and/or reduce the exposure to tobacco smoke for infants, children and young people.

Prevent the initiation

More than eighty percent of adults who use tobacco, started their use of tobacco before the age of eighteen. Use of tobacco among children and youths easily produces a nicotine dependency, the risk of which is vastly underestimated by the young people themselves.

The FDI vigorously supports all measures that endeavour to prevent the initiation of tobacco use

FDI smoke free

The hazards of environmental tobacco smoke are well documented.

The FDI's Congresses, educational programme, business meetings and Head Office are all smoke free.

The 84th FDI Annual Congress will be remembered as the Congress when World Dentistry said No to tobacco

: Orjan Akerberg
: Chairman
: World Dentistry Against Tobacco
: Centre for Public Health
: County council of Skaraborg
: S-542 87 Mariestad, Sweden
: Tel. 46 (0)501 623 59
: Fax. 46 (0)501 623 50
: email: orjan.akerberg@skovde.mail.telia.com n

Smoke Free Europe - A Forum for Networks - 14 AUG 1997

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