Chewing tobacco is a kind of smokeless tobacco that is also referred to as spit tobacco, chew or dip. There is a common misconception that chewing tobacco is less harmful to your health than smoking cigarettes, but in 1986, the advisory committee to the U.S. Surgeon General concluded that chewing tobacco is not safer than smoking cigarettes. If you chew tobacco, you are being to exposed to a variety of harmful and carcinogenic chemicals.
Addiction
Just like cigarettes, chewing tobacco contains an addictive chemical called nicotine. Chewing tobacco users absorb nicotine through the tissues in their mouth where it enters the bloodstream. Nicotine levels in chewing tobacco users are comparable to those in cigarette smokers but, in some cases, people who chew tobacco may absorb more nicotine than smokers, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Once addicted, if you try to stop using chewing tobacco you may experience symptoms of withdrawal.
Oral Diseases
With continued use, the high sugar content and coarse particles in chewing tobacco can damage tooth enamel and gum tissue, resulting in oral diseases such as gum disease, also known as gingivitis, and dental caries. You may also develop precancerous lesions known as leukoplakia in your mouth, often within the first three years of use, according to the Tobacco Free Kids website.
Cancer
At a minimum, there are 28 carcinogenic chemicals in chewing tobacco. Chewing tobacco has also been linked to the development of several forms of cancer, including pancreatic cancer, cancer of the esophagus and oral cancers. According to Tobacco Free Kids, chewing tobacco may also cause cancers of the larynx, pharynx and stomach, and oral cancers may develop in as few as five years.
Cardiovascular Disease
Use of smokeless tobacco, including chewing tobacco, may increase your risk of heart attack. The nicotine in chewing tobacco can cause your blood vessels to narrow and may contribute to the development of a variety of ailments, including coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease and high blood pressure.
