Why is chewing tobacco bad for you

Snus is held between the gum and lower lip and the juice is swallowed. Dry snuff is a powder that is sniffed or inhaled up the nose. Moist snuff is a gum-like substance sold in pouches and then placed between the lower lip or cheek and gum. Chew is not a safe substitute for cigarettes. People who chew or dip ingest about the same amount of nicotine as regular smokers. These products contain a variety of potentially harmful chemicals. TSNA levels vary by product, but higher levels result in greater cancer risk.

Cessation is the best option for those looking to lead a healthier lifestyle. The highest concentration of users is in rural areas. Myths about chew and similar products. Myth Only old guys chew. Fact Since , smokeless tobacco transitioned from being primarily used by older men to predominantly young men and boys. Myth Chew is not as addictive as cigarettes. Fact Chew and smokeless tobacco products can be just as addictive as cigarettes because all of these products contain nicotine.

Fact If you suck on tobacco of any kind, it can still harm you. Myth Brushing your teeth after using chew lessens the damage. Fact Even if you brush your teeth or rinse your mouth after using chew, the high sugar content can erode tooth enamel. References 1. The surface of the tooth root may be exposed where gums have shrunken. All of these can cause teeth to loosen and fall out. Smokeless tobacco can lead to nicotine poisoning and even death in children who mistake it for candy. All smokeless tobacco contains nicotine, which can lead to addiction.

In teens, using nicotine can also harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. It may also increase the risk for future addiction to other drugs.

Dissolvable tobacco is of special concern because at this time little is known about the health effects of these products. Because they are so tempting, they can easily poison children and pets. Manufacturers often imply or even claim that spit or smokeless tobacco can help people quit smoking. A lot of people believe and try this. But no smokeless tobacco product has been proven to help people quit smoking. Unlike US Food and Drug Administration FDA -approved standard treatments that have been proven to work such as nicotine replacement therapy NRT and certain drugs , oral tobacco products have not been tested thoroughly to see if they can help a person stop smoking.

And research to date has not shown that they really help a person quit. Even if using smokeless tobacco helps some people give up smoking, it still can cause cancer and other health problems, so it's not a safe alternative. For more, see How to Quit Using Tobacco. But just like smoking, it is possible to stop using chewing tobacco.

Many people who quit find it helpful to replace chewing tobacco with a healthier substitute, like sunflower seeds, beef jerky or chewing gum. These substitutes take the physical place of chew in the mouth and they can help keep you distracted. Heavy users of chewing tobacco may also want to consider Nicotine Replacement Therapy NRT to reduce their cravings and to lessen their withdrawal symptoms. NRT includes nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers and sprays that provide a cleaner dose of nicotine without the toxic and cancer-causing chemicals found in chewing tobacco.

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