Dip, Snuff, or Chew

Tobacco placed between the lip and gum.

Chewing tobacco does not improve athletic performance.

People who chew tobacco are more likely to develop mouth cancer than nonsmokers. 1 in 3 oral cancer patience die from the disease. Surgical treatment often requires the removal of teeth, portions of the jaw, other facial bones, and portions of the lips and cheeks. Obviously those who survive may become severely disfigured. Teens as young as 15 have suffered, become disfigured and died from oral cancer caused by tobacco products.

Chewing tobacco delivers more nicotine into your blood stream than cigarettes. For this reason, chewing tobacco is extremely addictive and very difficult to quit. Oral cancer can develop in just 6 to 7 years from Chewing tobacco. The highly addictive nature of chewing tobacco makes it very difficult to quit before this time rolls around.

Chewing tobacco is more damaging to the cardiovascular system than cigarettes The high amount of nicotine absorbed into the mouth and throat circulates in the blood, irritating the inside of your blood vessels. Even at a young age, this irritation causes cholesterol to adhere to the inside walls of your blood vessels making them increasingly hard. Over time this cholesterol it can pile up until the artery is blocked, causing you to have a stroke or heart attack. This process, called arteriosclerosis, can begin right now thanks to that can of snuff.

Dip contains...

  • Nicotine, an addictive chemical
  • Polonium 210 classified as nuclear waste
  • Formaldehyde, a cancer causing agent used to embalm dead bodies
    that also causes skin and gastrointestinal problems.
  • Acetaldehyde
  • Hydrazine a toxin
  • Cadmium, A chemical found in batteries that causes liver, kidney
    and brain damage and stays in your system for up to 22 years.
  • Uranium 235, a component of nuclear weapons
  • Benzopyrene, a cancer-causing agent
  • N-nitrosamines, another group of cancer causing agents

The toxins found in chewing tobacco can cause irreversible gum disease, in which your gums detach from your teeth.

If you are chewing tobacco now, you must see your doctor every 3 months to catch cancer at an early stage. You should also examine your mouth often, especially areas that come in contact with the tobacco product. If you notice any of the following see your doctor immediately:

  • A sore that bleeds easily and does not heal
  • Soreness that doesn't go a away
  • A lump or thickening in your mouth or on your neck
  • Swelling that doesn't go away
  • Difficulty chewing, swallowing or moving your jaw

Of course we highly recommend you quit chewing, and we offer the above guidelines for the period of time in which you cut back on chewing.

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Related Info

For practical help to quit chewing tobacco contact:
1-800-4-CANCER
A service set up by the National Institute of Dental Research,
the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Health