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Quit Today

South Dakota QuitLine is a FREE resource available to any state resident 13 or older. Choose from three ways to leave smoking, vaping or chewing in the past. Quit, stay quit and breathe easy.

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TRIBAL TOBACCO ADVOCACY TOOLKIT

The purpose of the Toolkit is to support tribes and tribal allies with a framework for public health

Access Advocacy Toolkit
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Youth & Young Adults

Children and young adults are especially vulnerable to loss of brain function as a result of vaping.
Even using e-cigarette devices without nicotine can cause damage. To protect your physical and mental health, it's time to quit.

Young Adults
Middle School
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More Good years

Quitting is the difference between quality time with your family and missing out to catch your breath. Enjoy your years really living. Leave tobacco in the past, and live more good years.

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Control Tobacco

Access tools for educators, coalitions and more. Explore our media library, order educational or advocacy supplies and more.

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Oral Cancer

Smoking, vaping and smokeless tobacco use can cause many health issues, especially to your mouth. Some of the biggest threats to your oral health are oral cancer and other cancers of the esophagus, pharynx, larynx, stomach and pancreas. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), “Tobacco use of any kind, including cigarette, pipe and cigar, and electronic cigarette smoking, as well as chewing tobacco and snuff, puts you at risk for developing oral cancers.”

Pre-cancerous oral lesions are some of the clearest signs that you have or are at risk for oral cancer. These lesions appear as sores, lumps or patches in your mouth or throat.

Symptom of oral cancer can include:

  • Sores, irritation, lumps or thick patches in your mouth, on your lips or on your throat.
  • White or red patches in the mouth.
  • A persistent sore throat or feeling like something is stuck in the throat.
  • Pain, swelling or bleeding of the mouth or jaw.
  • Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue, chewing, swallowing or speaking.

Types of Oral Cancer

There are many types of oral cancers that can affect your mouth and/or throat, but the most common type is squamous cell carcinomas, which make up 90 percent of mouth and throat cancers. Squamous cell carcinomas start on the inner surface of the oral cavity.

Other common oral cancers include basal cell carcinoma that starts in the lips, lymphoma that starts in the lymphatic system and melanomas that start in cells that produce pigment.

Early Detection

Oral cancer spreads quickly, so detecting early can make all the difference. Ask your dentist or dental hygienist to conduct an oral cancer exam — it’s quick and painless. They’ll check out your face, around your entire mouth, your lips and the back of your throat for early signs of cancer.

If you don’t have an upcoming appointment with your dentist, conduct an exam yourself!

If you feel you may have oral lesions or cancer or you may be at risk for them, use our step-by-step guide to perform a self-exam of your mouth.

 

 

7 Easy Steps

Oral Cancer Self Exam

Chewing tobacco puts you at risk of oral lesions, oral cancer and other cancers of the esophagus, pharynx, larynx, stomach and pancreas. If you currently chew or have chewed tobacco, take these seven steps to check for any evidence of oral cancer.

01 Head & Neck
Look at your face and neck in a mirror. Normally, the left and right sides of the face have the same shape. Check for any lumps, bumps or swelling that are only on one side of your face.
 
02 Lips
Pull your lower lip down and look for sores or color changes. Then use your thumb and forefinger to feel the lip for lumps, bumps or changes in texture. Repeat this on your upper lip.
 
03 Neck
Press along the sides and front of the neck for tenderness or lumps.
 
04 Face
Examine the skin on your face for changes in color or size, sores, moles or growths.
 
05 Cheeks
Examine your inner cheek for red, white or dark patches. Lightly pinch the inside and outside of your cheek. Gently squeeze and roll both sides between your fingers to check for any lumps or tenderness.
 
06 Floor of the Mouth & Tongue
Extend your tongue, and look at the top surface for color and texture. Pull your tongue forward to look at both sides for any swelling or color changes. Examine the underside of the tongue by placing the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Look at the floor of your mouth and the underside of your tongue for color changes, and touch the underside of your tongue to feel for any lumps or swelling.
 
07 Roof of the Mouth
Tilt your head back, and open your mouth wide to look for any lumps. See if the color is different from usual. Use a finger to touch the roof of your mouth to feel for abnormal lumps.
 
7 Easy Steps

ORAL CANCER SELF EXAM

Chewing tobacco puts you at risk of oral lesions, oral cancer and other cancers of the esophagus, pharynx, larynx, stomach and pancreas. If you currently chew or have chewed tobacco, take these seven steps to check for any evidence of oral cancer.
1
Head & Neck Look at your face and neck in a mirror. Normally, the left and right sides of the face have the same shape. Check for any lumps, bumps, or swellings that are only on one side of your face.
2
Lips Pull your lower lip down and look for sores or color changes. Then use your thumb and forefinger to feel the lip for lumps, bumps or changes in texture. Repeat this on your upper lip.
3
Neck Press along the sides and front of the neck for tenderness or lumps.
4
Face Examine the skin on your face for changes in color or size, sores, moles or growths.
5
Cheek Examine your inner cheek for red, white or dark patches. Lightly pinch the inside and outside of your cheek. Gently squeeze and roll both sides between your fingers to check for any lumps or tenderness.
6
Floor of the Mouth & Tongue Extend your tongue, and look at the top surface for color and texture. Pull your tongue forward to look at both sides for any swelling or color changes. Examine the underside of the tongue by placing the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Look at the floor of your mouth and the underside of your tongue for color changes, and touch the underside of your tongue to feel for any lumps or swellings.
7
Roof of the Mouth Tilt your head back, and open your mouth wide to look for any lumps. See if the color is different from usual. Use a finger to touch the roof of your mouth to feel for abnormal lumps.