Smokeless Tobacco Is Just as Dangerous as Smoking Cigarettes
September 11th, 2006 (Quit Smoking)
Many people seem to think that chewing tobacco and snuff are safe substitutes for cigarettes. But the truth is that they are not safe. Such unburned tobacco products contain carcinogens that have caused malignant tumors in animals. The Third National Cancer Survey found that men who used smokeless tobacco had a nearly fourfold increased risk of developing oral cancer compared with nonusers.
The use of smokeless tobacco causes other problems. Gums may recede from teeth in the spot where tobacco is held in the mouth. This causes tooth loss. And increased tooth decay can result from the large amount of sugar contained in chewing tobacco.
Studies show that the elevated levels of nicotine in the blood that result from using smokeless tobacco are similar to those produced by smoking cigarettes. Persons who use snuff or chewing tobacco experience increases in heart rate and blood pressure similar to those experienced by smokers. And the use of smokeless tobacco is linked with head and neck cancer.
Smokeless tobacco is just as addictive as smoking tobacco, and regular use is likely to result in long-term nicotine dependence and its associated health risks. Snuff and chewing tobacco also quickly diminish the senses of taste and smell, and these drugs increase bad breath.