Smokeless Tobacco Facts

Overview

• The two main types of smokeless tobacco in the United States are chewing tobacco and snuff.^1,2
• Smokeless tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes.²
• Smokeless tobacco use can cause cancer, oral health problems, and nicotine addiction.²

Chewing Tobacco

Chewing tobacco comes in the form of loose leaf, plug, or twist.^2,3,4

Form	Description	Use	Market Share (2009)*
*Percentage of U.S. market for smokeless tobacco products5
Loose leaf	Cured tobacco strips typically sweetened and packaged in foil pouches	Piece taken from pouch and placed between cheek and gums	22.2%
Plug	Cured tobacco leaves pressed together into a cake or "plug" form and wrapped in a tobacco leaf	Piece taken from pouch and placed between cheek and gums	0.6%
Twist (or roll)	Cured tobacco leaves (often flavored) twisted together to resemble rope	Piece cut off from twist and placed between cheek and gums	0.4%

Snuff

Snuff is finely ground tobacco that can be dry, moist, or packaged in sachets.^2,3,4

Form	Description	Use	Market Share (2009)*
*Percentage of U.S. market for smokeless tobacco products5
Moist	Cured and fermented tobacco processed into fine particles and often packaged in round cans	Pinch or "dip" is placed between cheek or lip and gums	75.3%
Dry	Fire-cured tobaccoprocessed into a powder	Pinch of powder is taken orally or inhaled through the nostrils	1.4%
Sachets	Moist snuff packaged in ready-to-use pouches that resemble small tea bags	Sachet is placed between cheek or teeth and gums	Data unavailable

Although some forms of snuff can be used by sniffing or inhaling into the nose,² most smokeless tobacco users place the product between their gum and cheek.³ Users suck or chew on the tobacco, and saliva can be spat out or swallowed.^3,4 The tobacco industry has also developed newer smokeless tobacco products such as lozenges, tablets, tabs, strips, and sticks.^4,6

Health Effects

Cancer

• Smokeless tobacco contains 28 cancer-causing agents (carcinogens).^2,4
• Smokeless tobacco is a known cause of human cancer; it increases the risk of developing cancer of the oral cavity.^4,7

Oral Health

• Smokeless tobacco is also strongly associated with leukoplakia—a precancerous lesion of the soft tissue in the mouth that consists of a white patch or plaque that cannot be scraped off.³
• Smokeless tobacco is associated with recession of the gums, gum disease, and tooth decay.^3,6

Reproductive Health

• Smokeless tobacco use during pregnancy increases the risks for preeclampsia (i.e., a condition that may include high blood pressure, fluid retention, and swelling), premature birth, and low birth weight.⁴
• Smokeless tobacco use by men causes reduced sperm count and abnormal sperm cells.⁴

Nicotine Addiction

• Smokeless tobacco use can lead to nicotine addiction and dependence.^2,4
• Adolescents who use smokeless tobacco are more likely to become cigarette smokers.³

Source : LINK