What Do You Know About Smokeless Tobacco?
The health consequences of using smokeless tobacco include increased heart rate, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and mouth sores.1, 2
Many people consider chewing tobacco a safe alternative to cigarettes because it’s not smoked.5
In reality, it can cause serious long-term health problems. Tobacco in any form contains 28 cancer-causing agents called carcinogens.1 Although smokeless tobacco doesn’t cause lung cancer, it does cause cancers of the lip, tongue, cheek, and throat. Holding tobacco against your mouth tissues irritates them and can cause white patches called leukoplakia to form. These patches are considered to be precancerous.5
Smokeless tobacco comes in two forms: snuff and chewing tobacco. 5
Chewing tobacco is sold in leaf form, plug form, and twist form. It is placed against the side of the mouth, between the cheek and the gum. Snuff is powdered tobacco that is sold dry, moist, or in sachet bags. It is placed in the front of the mouth, between the lower lip and gum. 5
The average age of most people diagnosed with oral cancers is 62. 3
Young people also can develop oral cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. 3
Symptoms of oral cancer include sores on the inside of the mouth that don't heal; pain, numbness, or tenderness in the mouth or lips; and a lump or small eroded area in the mouth.4
See your doctor or dentist if you notice any of these signs.4
Oral cancer may be curable if it is caught early.4
It’s disfiguring, however, because it can lead to surgical removal of the teeth, palate, jaw, and tongue. If you use smokeless tobacco, or have in the past, you should be on the lookout for some of these early signs of oral cancer: a mouth sore that doesn’t heal; a lump or white patch in the mouth; a prolonged sore throat; difficulty chewing; restricted movement of the tongue or jaws; or a feeling of something in the throat. Pain is rarely an early symptom. For this reason, all tobacco users need regular dental checkups.4
A pinch of smokeless tobacco has more nicotine than one cigarette.2
Holding an average-sized pinch or dip in the mouth for 30 minutes releases as much nicotine in the body as smoking three cigarettes.2 In addition, while the nicotine in smokeless tobacco is absorbed more slowly than the nicotine in cigarettes, more of it is absorbed. That means it stays in the bloodstream longer.1
Even though there's no smoke, chewing tobacco can cause heart disease or stroke.5
In addition, people who use smokeless tobacco are more likely to take up smoking.5
Chewing tobacco stains your teeth.5
It also can lead to tooth loss because it causes your gums to pull away from your teeth at the spot where the tobacco is held in the mouth.5
To kick the chewing habit, talk with your doctor about using a nicotine patch.5
People who use a patch experience less severe withdrawal symptoms than those who quit without a patch. Your doctor also can help you develop a plan to quit.5
1 “Smokeless Tobacco and Cancer: Questions and Answers.” National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/smokeless Accessed 2010.
2 “Spit (Smokeless Tobacco).” National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, August 5, 2008. www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/SpitTobacco/ Accessed 2010.
3 “What Are the Key Statistics About Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancers?” American Cancer Society, September 24, 2009. www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_1x_what_are_the_key_statistics_for_oral_cavity_and_oropharyngeal_cancer_60.asp?sitearea=cri Accessed 2010.
4 “How Are Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancers Diagnosed?” American Cancer Society, September 24, 2009. www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_How_is_oral_cavity_and_oropharyngeal_cancer_diagnosed_60.asp Accessed 2010.
5 “Smokeless Tobacco and How to Quit.” American Cancer Society, October 14, 2009. www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_13X_Quitting_Smokeless_Tobacco.asp?sitearea=&level Accessed 20010.