Journal of the American Dental Association, Vol 126, Issue 3, 327-331
Copyright © 1995 by American Dental Association
Abrasive particles in tobacco products: a possible factor in dental attrition
WH Bowles,
MR Wilkinson,
MJ Wagner,
and
RD Woody
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas 75246, USA.
Tobacco products are known to cause oral soft-tissue lesions, but they may also directly affect the teeth. Abrasive particles contained in tobacco products may contribute to dental attrition. We studied tobacco samples from 16 brands of cigars, eight brands of snuff, four brands of chewing tobacco and several unprocessed tobacco leaves used as cigar wrappers. Insoluble particulate matter made up about 0.5 percent of the weight of an average tobacco sample.