Want something to chew on? Don't let it be smokeless tobacco! Smokeless or spit tobacco comes in two forms: chewing tobacco and snuff—both of which can cause cancer and serious oral health problems.
Chewing tobacco can be found as leaf tobacco, which is packaged in a pouch, or plug tobacco, which is in a brick form. Both are put between the cheek and gum for several hours, and produce a continuous nicotine high in users. Snuff, usually sold in cans, is a powdered form of tobacco that's put between the lower lip and gum. A very small amount will quickly release nicotine into the bloodstream, producing a quick high.
Because smokeless tobacco puts more nicotine into the bloodstream than cigarettes, people who chew on a regular basis often find it harder to quit than cigarette smoking. In fact, an average sized "dip" that's held in the mouth for 30 minutes releases as much nicotine as smoking two or three cigarettes. When someone uses smokeless tobacco, his or her body adjusts to the amount of tobacco needed to produce that high. Then he or she needs a little more tobacco to achieve the same feeling and ends up addicted. Using smokeless tobacco is not a good way to quit smoking cigarettes. Smokeless tobacco has many of the same toxic chemicals as tobacco in cigarettes.
It may be smokeless, but it isn't harmless! In addition to nicotine, smokeless tobacco contains at least 28 known cancer-causing chemicals. Here are just a few of the substances found in smokeless tobacco:
Smokeless tobacco users put themselves at a high risk for many serious and visible health problems such as:
Anyone who uses smokeless tobacco (or has used it in the past), should check regularly for early signs of oral cancer:
Tobacco users should be vigilant about seeing their dentist every few months to have their mouth checked for oral cancer. The earlier the cancer is detected, the greater the chance for curing it.
It may be difficult to quit using smokeless tobacco, but many people succeed at it. If you want to quit, here are some tips that can help:
RESOURCES:
National Institute on Drug Abuse
http://www.nida.nih.gov
Smokefree.gov
http://www.smokefree.gov
Canadian RESOURCES:
Healthy Living Unit (Public Health Canada)
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/
References:
Fiore MC, Jaen CR, Baker TB, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update. Clinical Practice Guideline. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service. May 2008.
Last reviewed May 2009 by Janet H. Greenhut, MD, MPH
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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