Local dentist sponsors baseball teams’ sunflower seeds to deter oral cancer
Cassville’s baseball team is pictured above with Dr. Spears. From left to right, in the front row: Lane Mitchell, Blake Gordon, Jonny Medina, Tristan White and Phoenix Martin. Second row: Camden Roller, Troy Haggins, Peyton Stringer, Kade Hayward, Kole Faber, Dr. Jared Spears, Bowen Preddy, Evan Kessinger, Jacob Housekeeper, Nate Hudson and Jayden Bowman. Back row: Kyle Long, Zach Coenon, Jarrod Wallace, Carson Roller, Hayden Sink, Hunter Chasteen, Sol Rainey, Drake Reese, Deven Bates, Dane Martin, Austin Sanders, Zac Acheson and Brady Schwere.
March 28, 2018
Charlea Estes-Jones
A local dentist has taken it upon himself to try to stop mouth cancer before it starts. Dr. Jared Spears, owner of a dental practice in Cassville, is teaming up with area high school baseball teams and sponsoring sunflower seeds for the teams to dissuade teens from using chewing tobacco.
Dr. Spears shared that he decided to contact the schools after having teenage patients in his practice admit to using chewing tobacco. He shared, “I’ve been in contact with teenagers with damage in their mouths that looks like I see in a lot older adults. Asking them questions like, ‘when did you start and how long have you been chewing?’ And some of thee kids have been doing it for years at 16.”
After having that experience, Dr. Spears decided to try to come up with a proactive plan to prevent teenagers from starting the habit that often leads to oral cancer. He said, “We want kids not to start or quit while they are young. I’ve seen it throughout my whole practice. You can see it in the mouth if someone dips or chews. I’ve always felt strongly about letting them know they should stop because it’s serious. It’s dangerous.”
He added, “It is by far way more prevalent in our community than probably in a lot of areas.”
The idea to reach out to baseball teams was just the initial phase of his hopes to educate the community. “We’re just kind of getting started with this, but ultimately, we’d love to do stuff with younger kids. A lot of the time, they started [using chewing tobacco] when they were young and have been doing it for years and years. I shared a story with the baseball team that a young man started at 13 years old, was hooked by 14 and had 40 surgeries for jaw reconstructions later at 23. It ruined his life. He wanted to be a professional ball player and a camp out at 13 where he tried chew changed his life.
“I usually do reach outs about oral health in general, but this is the first time about oral cancer and specifically about chewing.”
Dr. Spears thought a good transition and way to reach out would be to talk to players while also providing an alternative to the habit that can lead to oral cancer. He also purchased each team a padded large bucket to hold the seed packets that also doubles as a seat.
Dr. Spears said, “Our goal is to sponsor the teams and get the word out. Chewing tobacco isn’t nearly the social stigma that smoking is today. You can’t smoke indoors. You can’t smoke at the ball field. With chewing tobacco, it doesn’t have that same stigma. The tobacco companies know that. Since cigarettes have declining sales, they’ve made a push for chewing tobacco, and it’s dangerous.”
So far, Dr. Spears has spoken to Cassville and Exeter’s baseball teams with plans in place to present at Purdy, Southwest and Wheaton, as well. He will present at Purdy on Wednesday, March 28, and Wheaton on Wednesday, April 4.
Dr. Spears concluded, “The goal behind this is two fold. Yeah, it’s great to support the team. But the real thing it so bring awareness to oral cancer specifically caused by dipping and chewing.”
Dr. Spears owns a dental practice located at 77 Smithson Drive in Cassville. They can be reached at (417) 847-2461.
Charlea Estes-Jones
A local dentist has taken it upon himself to try to stop mouth cancer before it starts. Dr. Jared Spears, owner of a dental practice in Cassville, is teaming up with area high school baseball teams and sponsoring sunflower seeds for the teams to dissuade teens from using chewing tobacco.
Dr. Spears shared that he decided to contact the schools after having teenage patients in his practice admit to using chewing tobacco. He shared, “I’ve been in contact with teenagers with damage in their mouths that looks like I see in a lot older adults. Asking them questions like, ‘when did you start and how long have you been chewing?’ And some of thee kids have been doing it for years at 16.”
After having that experience, Dr. Spears decided to try to come up with a proactive plan to prevent teenagers from starting the habit that often leads to oral cancer. He said, “We want kids not to start or quit while they are young. I’ve seen it throughout my whole practice. You can see it in the mouth if someone dips or chews. I’ve always felt strongly about letting them know they should stop because it’s serious. It’s dangerous.”
He added, “It is by far way more prevalent in our community than probably in a lot of areas.”
The idea to reach out to baseball teams was just the initial phase of his hopes to educate the community. “We’re just kind of getting started with this, but ultimately, we’d love to do stuff with younger kids. A lot of the time, they started [using chewing tobacco] when they were young and have been doing it for years and years. I shared a story with the baseball team that a young man started at 13 years old, was hooked by 14 and had 40 surgeries for jaw reconstructions later at 23. It ruined his life. He wanted to be a professional ball player and a camp out at 13 where he tried chew changed his life.
“I usually do reach outs about oral health in general, but this is the first time about oral cancer and specifically about chewing.”
Dr. Spears thought a good transition and way to reach out would be to talk to players while also providing an alternative to the habit that can lead to oral cancer. He also purchased each team a padded large bucket to hold the seed packets that also doubles as a seat.
Dr. Spears said, “Our goal is to sponsor the teams and get the word out. Chewing tobacco isn’t nearly the social stigma that smoking is today. You can’t smoke indoors. You can’t smoke at the ball field. With chewing tobacco, it doesn’t have that same stigma. The tobacco companies know that. Since cigarettes have declining sales, they’ve made a push for chewing tobacco, and it’s dangerous.”
So far, Dr. Spears has spoken to Cassville and Exeter’s baseball teams with plans in place to present at Purdy, Southwest and Wheaton, as well. He will present at Purdy on Wednesday, March 28, and Wheaton on Wednesday, April 4.
Dr. Spears concluded, “The goal behind this is two fold. Yeah, it’s great to support the team. But the real thing it so bring awareness to oral cancer specifically caused by dipping and chewing.”
Dr. Spears owns a dental practice located at 77 Smithson Drive in Cassville. They can be reached at (417) 847-2461.
