Workers motivated to give up tobacco

www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060404/ldh3.htm Workers motivated to give up tobacco Our Correspondent Ludhiana, April 3 Industrial workers, and particularly the migrants in the city smoke away their blues with beedi or cigarette puffs or chewing gutka and zarda. While blues return with a vengeance, their teeth gain palid layers. These were the findings of the Mission Smile Project, undertaken by the Thind Dental Clinic during a dental awareness and check -up camp, held at the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha at Dhandari Khurd on Sunday. The team leader, Dr Rajan Thind ,stated that the majority of the locality hailed from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and were industrial workers with an average monthly income between Rs 2500 and Rs 3500. Most of the residents were living in dingy and unhygienic conditions. Most of them ,regular consumers of tobacco, had bad teeth and had never visited a dentist. On an average each of them spent anything between Rs 10 and 20 on tobacco products everyday. Dr Thind observed that teeth of majority of them had developed plaque and calculus .The Mission Smile team apprised the visitors of the basics of oral health and hygiene. The proper brushing technique and use of tooth paste was demonstrated and they were motivated to give up the consumption of tobacco. Around 45 teeth were removed free of cost. Further, more than 175 people were given appointment for cleaning of the teeth. Other members of the mission smile team were: Dr Kavita Bal, Dr Preeti Rajput , Ms Bir Sukhman, Mr Tarsém Lal Verma, Mr Rahul Ketan, Ms Harry, Ms Manpreet, Ms Saroj, Ms Kitty, Ms Amrita and Mr Amardeep. The camp was inaugurated by Ms Sunita Aggarwal, the area Councillor.