Smokeless tobacco, also known as chewing tobacco, is directly linked to oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common cancer in the world. Oral cancer leads to a loss of teeth, tongue and jawbone, and often results in death. In fact, the American Cancer Society reports that the survival rate for oral cancer is only about 50 percent. Smokeless tobacco is also linked to gum disease, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, diabetes, bladder cancer, heart disease, clogged arteries and strokes. ``Tobacco can be deadly, no matter what form it takes,'' says Bob Rondeau, DMD, President of Dentistry Online, Inc. ``On Great American Smokeout Day, DentistryOnline.com wants to raise awareness of the damaging effects of smokeless tobacco. It's an addiction that grabs hold of children as young as 10 years old, and it can devastate families.'' According to Consumer Reports, half of all teen-age boys have tried smokeless tobacco by their senior year, and 20 percent of those become regular users. The average age of kids trying chewing tobacco for the first time is 10. The American Cancer Society predicts that nearly 30,000 new cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year, and more than 8,000 people are expected to die from this preventable disease in 1999. Children and adults who are trying to quit smokeless tobacco should talk to their dentists. There are several alternatives to chewing tobacco, including going ``cold turkey,'' or using nicotine patches in combination with sugar free gum. Another option is non-tobacco chews, including Mint Snuff and Nature's Sport Chew. For more information on smokeless tobacco and oral cancer, log onto DentistryOnline.com, an advertising-free, easy-to-navigate dental education Web site. Dentistry Online, Inc. produces interactive patient education content, which it syndicates to health portals, media Web sites and dental offices throughout the United States. The top dental patient education provider since 1993, Dentistry Online, Inc. has created sponsorship alliances with leading dental companies. Dentistry Online, Inc.'s site is located at www.dentistryonline.com.

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