Smokeless tobacco is a form of tobacco that is not smoked or burned, according to the National Cancer Institute. It can be inhaled through the nose as dry snuff or used as chewing tobacco or moist snuff. Nicotine and a number of toxic, carcinogenic compounds are both found in smokeless tobacco. It can cause pancreatic, oral, and esophageal cancers as well as nicotine addiction. In addition, it could lead to additional health issues like gum disease and heart disease.
The American Cancer Society states that there are numerous varieties of smokeless tobacco products. These include oral, spit, and chewing tobacco. These goods consist of dried tobacco that may be flavored and are offered as loose leaves, plugs, or twists. They are either chewed or positioned in between the cheek and the gums or teeth. Snuff or dipping tobacco is an additional type. Finely ground tobacco sold in cans or pouches is known as snuff. It may have flavorings added and is offered in dry or moist forms. Smokeless tobacco that dissolves come in a variety of forms, including tobacco lozenges, spheres, pellets, thin strips, and toothpick-sized sticks. Electronic heating elements are frequently used in heated tobacco products to heat tobacco that is contained in specifically made sticks, plugs, or capsules.
What are the health risks of smokeless tobacco? According to the American Cancer Society, using any kind of smokeless tobacco can expose you to health risks. These products contain cancer-causing chemicals, as well as addictive nicotine. Some smokeless tobacco products may expose users to lower levels of harmful chemicals than cigarette smoke, but this doesn’t mean they are safe. Moreover, no form of smokeless tobacco is a safe substitute for cigarettes. Still, tobacco companies often market these products as alternatives to smoking in places where smoking isn’t allowed.
The most serious health concern associated with smokeless tobacco, according to the Oral Health Foundation, is mouth cancer. This is as a result of the high concentration of cancer-causing substances it contains. Having these chemicals produced in your mouth over time may increase your risk of developing mouth cancer by four times. The areca (or betel) nut, one of the most harmful and often utilized components in smokeless tobacco, is employed. This is a component of "betel quid," a concoction of areca nut, betel leaf, and slaked lime. According to research, those who habitually chew areca nuts have a higher chance of developing oral, pharynx (throat), esophageal, pancreatic, and stomach cancers. Furthermore, because they frequently ingest tobacco juice, users of smokeless tobacco are more susceptible to developing throat cancer. Due to the pressure of the tobacco against the mouth's lining, cancers of the lip and cheek are very frequently seen.
Using smokeless tobacco while pregnant can raise the chance an early delivery and stillbirth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smokeless tobacco products include nicotine, which may have an impact on a baby's prenatal brain development. Smokeless tobacco use also raises the danger of heart disease and stroke-related death. Children who use smokeless tobacco may become addicted to nicotine. However, the long-term effects of more recent smokeless tobacco products, such as dissolvable, require further study.
Can use smokeless tobacco aid in quitting smoking? According to the American Cancer Society, producers frequently insinuate or outright declare that smokeless or spit tobacco can aid in quitting smoking. Many individuals attempt and believe this. However, there is no smokeless tobacco product that has been shown to aid in quitting smoking. Oral tobacco products have not undergone extensive testing to see whether they can assist someone in quitting smoking, in contrast to FDA-approved standard treatments that have been demonstrated to be effective (such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and certain medications). And research to date has not demonstrated that they actually assist someone in quitting. Smokeless tobacco, even though it aids some individuals in quitting smoking, can still result in cancer, and additionally, it is addictive and challenging to stop using because it still contains nicotine.
You might notice that giving up is more difficult than quitting smoking. The more potent and highly addicting nicotine is to blame for this. The Oral Health Foundation claims that when you try to quit smoking, your body still craves nicotine and you may experience "withdrawal symptoms." These include things like migraines, exhaustion, mood swings, snapping at people easily, and difficulty focusing. You can seek specialized assistance if quitting smokeless tobacco proves to be difficult for you. This can include support to help you cope with your emotions as well as nicotine replacement therapy, such as nicotine patches or gum. You can get assistance at a nearby quit-smoking facility.
DMO II Marie-Claire Gaas, RND
References:
- Smokeless Tobacco: Health Effects
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/smokeless/health_effects/index.htm#:~:text=1-,Smokeless%20Tobacco%20and%20Oral%20Disease,that%20can%20lead%20to%20cancer.&text=Smokeless%20tobacco%20can%20cause%20gum,tooth%20decay%2C%20and%20tooth%20loss.
