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Dangers of Chewing Tobacco

You know chewing tobacco isn’t good for you, but are you aware of how dangerous it is? Have you convinced yourself it’s a safe alternative to smoking? While chewing tobacco may not be quite as deadly as smoking cigarettes, it is far from safe.

Chewing tobacco can double your chances of developing gum disease, oral cancer, and loose teeth.

Why Is Chewing Tobacco Dangerous?

Smokeless tobacco has many of the same chemical additives that cigarettes have. They deliver these chemicals directly into your bloodstream through the blood vessels in your mouth.

Loose Teeth

Using chewing tobacco every day delivers high quantities of toxic chemicals to your gums. These toxins enter the bloodstream and weaken the structures holding your gums and teeth in place. Long-term, heavy users of chewing tobacco frequently have loose teeth and weak jawbones. Nicotine also acts as a vasoconstrictor so your gums are not getting the proper blood supply.

Damage to Dental Enamel

Many smokeless tobacco products contain sand, grit, and other abrasive ingredients. Daily use of these products can damage the enamel and weaken your teeth.

Flavored tobacco often contains high amounts of sugar. Constantly pressing that sugar against your teeth and gums can cause or accelerate tooth decay.

Leukoplakia

These are flat white patches that appear on your tongue and the inside of your cheek. They are considered precancerous tumors. In about 5% of cases, leukoplakia turns cancerous and leads to oral, esophagus, or throat cancer.

Small Cell Carcinoma

Users of chewing tobacco can develop squamous cell carcinoma. The tumors usually appear first on the tongue, but the disease moves quickly to the lungs, larynx and esophagus.

There are no treatments for this type of cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation may slow its progression, but this is a fast killer that few people survive.

Buerger’s Disease

This is a rare condition that affects smokers and users of chewing tobacco. Doctors are not sure what causes it, but it is only seen in tobacco users.

Buerger’s causes the blood vessels in the hand and feet to become blocked. When the blood vessels are blocked, they can’t control infections in the extremities. Any illness or injury can lead to severe infections and tissue damage.

In the worst cases, the nerve damage results in gangrene. If gangrene sets in, the only treatment option is amputation of the patient’s toes, legs, fingers or hands.

Signs and Symptoms

Talk to your dentist or your physician if you notice any of the following symptoms:

  • Sores on your tongue or gums that don’t heal.

  • White patches or bumps.

  • Sore throat that doesn’t clear up.

  • Difficulty chewing or moving your tongue.

Resources To Help You Quit

SmokeFreeVet offers help to anyone who uses Veterans Administrations (VA) healthcare and wants to quit tobacco. The organization offers a free guide on quitting smokeless tobacco.

Kill the Can is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people quit the chewing tobacco habit. The site offers many helpful resources. It encourages the use of healthy “fake dip” products to help users ease into quitting.

WhyQuit is an online community for smokers and tobacco users who want to quit. The founder is a former 3-pack-a-day smoker. The site has many helpful resources. It emphasizes a cold turkey approach to quitting tobacco products.

Quit Chewing Tobacco for Your Health

Chewing tobacco can damage your teeth and lead to serious, incurable health problems. Take steps now to quit using it. If you have any concerns related to your oral health, call Malan Family Dentistry.