Smokeless Tobacco: Safer than Cigarettes? 

Dipping tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, snus – these are a few of the different types of smokeless tobacco products used by people every day.  We always hear about cigarettes and the dangers, but rarely do the harmful effects of smokeless tobacco come to light.  In India, two of every five deaths are caused by smokeless tobacco, in adults over 30 years old.  Globally, 12% of deaths in adults 30 years and older are due to smokeless tobacco, and in some countries the death toll is as high as 30%!  This statistic is shocking, and truly tells a different story than the fun activity portrayed by some athletes in North America. 

Smokeless tobacco is prominent among young people too!  It is estimated that 20% of teen boys and 2% of teen girls use smokeless tobacco.  Just like cigarettes, using smokeless tobacco products is highly addictive and has detrimental effects.  Often, the reason young adult males are interested in smokeless tobacco is because some athletes use it – many of which has careers and lives that ended tragically due to smokeless tobacco products.  But what are some of the more immediate effects one can expect from using smokeless tobacco products?  Just like cigarettes, it leads to bad breath, yellow-brown stains on the teeth, and mouth sores (ick - who want to kiss that)! 

          Some strategies for quitting “dipping” include using nicotine replacement therapy (available FREE at Health Services at the University of Waterloo this year!), and using substitutes in your mouth – such as mint gum.  For more information talk to a health professional, or come by and chat with one of our team members at our booths! Check out our Facebook for booth times: www.facebook.com/ltpbwaterloo

Reference: 

www.kidshealth.org