Chewing tobacco: Not a risk-free alternative to cigarettes
You can call it what you want — smokeless tobacco, spit tobacco, chew, snuff, pinch, plug or dip — but don't call it harmless. If you're considering making the switch from cigarettes to chewing tobacco because you think the smokeless version of tobacco won't hurt you, be warned — chewing tobacco can also cause serious health problems. Get the facts about chewing tobacco and why it's not a healthy option.
Chewing tobacco: Just one form of smokeless tobacco
Smokeless tobacco products consist of tobacco or a tobacco blend that is chewed, inhaled or sucked on rather than smoked. It's available in three main forms:
- Chewing tobacco. This type of smokeless tobacco comes in loose leaf, plugs or twists. As the name suggests, it's chewed.
- Snuff. This product is available dry or moist, in loose leaf or in pouches that look like small tea bags. A pinch of snuff may be placed between the cheek and the gum or inhaled into the nostrils.
- Betel quid. A product of India, Africa and Asia, betel quid is produced commercially or made at home. It consists of a dried paste that often includes tobacco, areca nuts, catechu, and scent or flavoring. Catechu is a plant-based product used to treat diarrhea and sometimes used for birth control in some parts of the world. Areca nuts are a plant-based product often used as a recreational drug. Betel is placed in the mouth, usually between the gum and cheek, and gently sucked and chewed.
Though the concept of chewing tobacco might conjure up images of spittoons and messy brown liquid, not all smokeless tobacco needs to be spit out during use. Tobacco companies have developed a friendlier version of chewing tobacco — a spitless tobacco — in an effort to convince more smokers they should consider using smokeless products in places where smoking is forbidden.
Health risks of chewing tobacco and other forms of smokeless tobacco
Using chewing tobacco and other smokeless tobacco products can cause serious health problems, from gum irritation to oral cancer.
Addiction
Chewing tobacco gets you hooked on nicotine, similar to the way cigarettes get you hooked. And once you're addicted, it becomes difficult to stop using chewing tobacco. Just as with smoking, withdrawal from chewing tobacco causes signs and symptoms such as intense cravings, increased appetite, irritability and depressed moods.
People who use chewing tobacco eventually develop a tolerance for nicotine and need more tobacco to feel the effects of the nicotine. Some people switch to brands with more nicotine and tend to use chewing tobacco more frequently the longer they've been using smokeless products.
Cavities
Chewing tobacco and other forms of smokeless tobacco cause tooth decay. That's because chewing tobacco contains high amounts of sugar, which contributes to cavities. Chewing tobacco is also filled with coarse particles that can irritate your gums and scratch away at the enamel on your teeth, making your teeth more vulnerable to cavities.
Gum disease
The sugar and irritants in chewing tobacco and other forms of smokeless tobacco can cause your gums to pull away from your teeth in the area of your mouth where you hold your tobacco. Over time you can develop gum disease (gingivitis) and possibly tooth loss.
Heart problems
Smokeless tobacco increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Some evidence suggests that it may put you at an increased risk of heart attack. People who use smokeless tobacco also have higher cholesterol levels than those of people who don't use tobacco.
Precancerous mouth sores
People who use smokeless tobacco are more likely to develop small white patches called leukoplakia (loo-ko-PLA-ke-uh) inside their mouths. These mouth sores are considered precancerous — meaning that the sores could one day develop into cancer.
Oral cancer
Your risk of oral cancer is increased if you use smokeless tobacco. Oral cancer includes cancers of the mouth, throat, cheek, gums, lips and tongue. Surgery to remove cancer from any of these areas can leave your jaw, chin, neck or face disfigured.
It's never too late to quit
If you're using smokeless tobacco, quit. Now that you know the dangers associated with it, you have extra motivation to give it up. Here's what to do:
- Set a quit date. Mark your quit day on your calendar and commit to it. Select a day at least one week away so that you have time to prepare for your life as a former tobacco user.
- Talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor about your goal to quit using smokeless tobacco. Ask him or her for advice. Smokeless tobacco users have more success with quitting if they talk to a doctor or dentist about strategies for quitting. You and your doctor can also discuss medications such as bupropion (Zyban) that can ease withdrawal symptoms when you quit.
- Get support. Join a support group in your area. Go online. Get help and support from people who understand what you're going through. Free resources are out there, so don't worry about a financial cost.
- Consider nicotine replacement patches. Nicotine replacement products also include gum and lozenges. They can ease the withdrawal signs and symptoms you may experience.
Devise a plan to deal with cravings and know that cravings are typically short-lived. Eating licorice, chewing gum, going for a walk and calling a friend will help you get through them. And the cravings will go away over time.
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