Debate #1 Speech

Here is the speech for my first debate perfomred in Research Class. I was on the 'Pro' side and the statement was, "Smoking cessation counselling should be included in the dental hygienists scope of practice."

I was in a group of 7 people and this was my part I verbalized.

Dear Ladies and gentlemen just as a cigarette has structure that gives it function, so the peridontia of our client has structure that gives it meaning, purpose, and function. We have the ultimate ammo at our disposal, in the form of smoking cessation, to protect our client’s oral cavity from the disease of periodontitis.


Smoking is one of predominant risk factors known to contribute to periodontitis. What is periodontitis? It is a disease of the structural frame work that supports those teeth that we hold dear to us. It is a destructive disease that manifests itself as gingival recession, loss of connective tissue and alveolar bone, bleeding of the tissues, and loss of teeth.

With each inhalation of the toxic, yet addictive smoke, the periodontal tissue undergoes changes that contribute to its demise.

Nicotine concentration promotes the vasoconstriction of blood vesicles, decreasing oxygen to the cells, and restricting the movement of white blood cells which help to defend against periodontal bacteria. In a study of 1400 people that use tobacco, it was found that they were 3 times more likely, than non-smokers, to harbour terrorist bacteria like porphymonous gingivalis, A.A., and Bacteriodes Forythus. In a deadly tango of enzyme chemical warfare the terrorist and WBCs kill each other but also sustain collateral damage by destroying supportive fibres, tissue, and bone. Smokers are 3 – 6 times more likely to exhibit periodontal destruction, and 12 times more likely to have severe loss of periodontal attachment. We live in a time were people wish to retain their pearly whites, but 41% of smokers over the age of 65 are at a higher risk of being toothless.

As primary health care providers, smoking cessation, gives us a key preventive weapon in the war on periodontitis. In Canada alone, 18% of the population, ages 12 years and older uses tobacco products. According to the Canadian Dental Association, 50% of those people will visit a dental office more than once a year. Of that 50%, 70% of those people would like to stop using tobacco products. This indicates that there is a need for smoking cessation and a great opportunity for us as defenders of the oral cavity, to destroy one of the major risk factors of periodontitis.