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Smokeless Tobacco

A lot of my friends use chew becauses they think it's safer than cigarettes. Is it?

Some people say smokeless tobacco is okay because there is no smoke like a cigarette has. Do not believe them. It is not a safe alternative to smoking. You just move health problems from your lungs to your mouth.

There are two forms of smokeless tobacco: chewing tobacco and snuff. Chewing tobacco is usually sold as leaf tobacco (packaged in a pouch) or plug tobacco (in brick form) that is put between the cheek and gum. Users keep chewing tobacco in their mouths for several hours to get a continuous buzz from the nicotine in the tobacco.

Snuff is a powdered tobacco (usually sold in cans) that is put between the lower lip and gum. Just a pinch is all that is needed to release the nicotine, which is then swiftly absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in a quick high.

Chemicals in smokeless tobacco

Keep in mind that the smokeless tobacco you or your friends are using contains many chemicals that can be harmful to your health. Here are a few of the ingredients found in smokeless tobacco:

  • Nicotine (addictive drug)
  • Polonium 210 (nuclear waste)
  • Cadmium (used in car batteries)
  • N-Nitrosamines (cancer-causing)
  • Lead (poison)
  • Formaldehyde (embalming fluid)

The nicotine contained in smokeless tobacco is what gives the user a buzz. It also makes it very hard to quit. Why? Because every time you use smokeless tobacco your body gets used to the nicotine; it actually starts to crave it. Craving is one of the signs of addiction, or dependence. Your body also adjusts to the amount of tobacco you need to chew to get a buzz. Pretty soon you will need a little more tobacco to get the same feeling. This process is called tolerance, which is another sign of addiction.

Physical and mental effects of smokeless tobacco

If you use smokeless tobacco, here is what you might have to look forward to:

  • Cancer. Cancer of the mouth (including the lip, tongue, and cheek) and throat. Cancers usually occur at the spot in the mouth where the tobacco is held. The surgery for cancer of the mouth could lead to removal of parts of your face, tongue, cheek, or lip.
  • Leukoplakia. When you hold tobacco in one place in your mouth, your mouth becomes irritated by the tobacco juice. This causes a white, leathery-like patch to form, and this is called leukoplakia. These patches can be different in size, shape, and appearance. They are also considered precancerous: If you find one in your mouth, see your doctor immediately.
  • Heart Disease. The constant flow of nicotine into your body causes many side effects including increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and sometimes irregular heart beats. Nicotine in the body also causes constricted blood vessels that can slow down reaction time and cause dizziness—not a good move if you play sports.
  • Gum and Tooth Disease. Smokeless tobacco permanently discolors teeth. Chewing tobacco causes halitosis (bad breath). Its direct and repeated contact with the gums cause them to recede, which can cause your teeth to become loose. Smokeless tobacco contains a lot of sugar which, when mixed with the plaque on your teeth, forms acid that eats away at tooth enamel and causes cavities and chronic painful sores.
  • Social Effects. Having really bad breath, discolored teeth, and gunk stuck in your teeth and constant spitting can have a very negative effect on your social life.

Quit today

You have just read the bad news, but here is the good news. Even though it is very difficult to quit chewing tobacco, it can be done. Remember, most people do not start chewing on their own, so do not try quitting on your own. Ask for help and positive reinforcement from your doctor, friends, parents, coaches, teachers, whomever . . .

 

Published online: 3/07
Source: Smokeless Tobacco: Guidelines for Teens (Copyright © 1995 American Academy of Pediatrics)

Healthcare professionals may order this publication in multi-copy packs.
Parents can find more information on this topic in Caring for Your Teenager. To order a copy of this book visit the AAP Bookstore.

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The information contained in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.



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