Health risks related to spit tobacco (chewing tobacco or snuff)

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Health risks related to spit tobacco (chewing tobacco or snuff)

Spit, or smokeless, tobacco products include chewing tobacco and snuff. Some people use spit tobacco because they believe it is less harmful than smoking. Although spit tobacco is less harmful, these products are just as addictive as cigarettes and do have severe health risks.

Spit tobacco causes white, leathery patches (leukoplakia) to form on the inside of the cheek or on the gum. These patches can turn into cancer of the mouth (oral cancer), involving the lip, tongue, or cheek.
People who use spit tobacco have 2 to 3 times more cases of gum disease than people who do not smoke. This can cause tooth loss. Other severe dental problems can also develop.

Nicotine levels from smokeless tobacco are just as high as in cigarettes. This can lead to addiction to the nicotine in smokeless tobacco, making it just as hard to quit as if you were smoking cigarettes.

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Author	Debby Golonka, MPH
Author	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Michele Cronen
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	John Hughes, MD - Psychiatry
Last Updated	July 24, 2007

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Last updated:	July 24, 2007
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, John Hughes, MD - Psychiatry
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Michele Cronen

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