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Summary
Many people who chew tobacco or dip snuff think it's safer than smoking. But you don't have to smoke tobacco for it to be dangerous. Chewing or dipping carries risks like:
- Cancer of the mouth
- Decay of exposed tooth roots
- Pulling away of the gums from the teeth
- White patches or red sores in the mouth that can turn to cancer
Recent research shows the dangers of smokeless tobacco may go beyond the mouth. It might also play a role in other cancers, heart disease and stroke.
Smokeless tobacco contains more nicotine than cigarettes. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug that makes it hard to stop using tobacco once you start. Having a quit date and a quitting plan can help you stop successfully.
NIH: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Prevention and Risk Factors
- BeTobaccoFree.gov (Department of Health and Human Services)
Related Issues
- Health Effects of Smokeless Tobacco (Department of Health and Human Services)
Specifics
- Chewing Tobacco and Other Forms of Smokeless Tobacco Are More Harmful and Addictive Than You Might Think. (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
-
E-Cigs, Menthol, and Dip
(National Cancer Institute, Tobacco Control Research Branch)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Tobacco, Smokeless
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Smokeless tobacco use and its associated factors among secondary school students...
- Article: Nested multilevel modelling study of smoking and smokeless tobacco consumption among...
- Article: Oral Cancer Incidence Among Adult Males With Current or Former Use...
- Smokeless Tobacco -- see more articles
Find an Expert
Teenagers
- Smokeless Tobacco (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.