Smokeless Tobacco
Smokeless tobacco is NOT a safe alternative to cigarette smoking! Smokeless tobacco can be DEADLY!
Facts about smokeless tobacco:
Touted by tobacco manufacturers as a safe alternative to cigarette smoking, smokeless tobaccos, like cigarettes, create a dependence on nicotine and contain high concentrations of carcinogens (cancer-causing agents).
Forms of smokeless tobacco include: moist and dry snuff, loose leaf, plug or pressed leaf, fine cut and twist chewing tobacco.
Usage of smokeless tobacco among the public is estimated at 24 million. Smokeless tobacco sales have increased more than 30 percent in the past ten years, while cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco usage has declined or shown only modest increases in usage. Industry analysts predict smokeless tobacco usage could double over the next few years as health-conscious Americans look for alternatives to smoking. Nationwide, about 30,000 cases of oral cancer are discovered each year, resulting in approximately 9,000 deaths. Affecting men over 40 most frequently, the incidence of oral cancer is almost three times higher among males than females.
Advertising is partially responsible for increased usage of smokeless tobacco. Advertising campaigns designed to appeal to young males 18-35 have slogans such as "take a pinch instead of a puff," "with practice, you'll be doing it like the pros," or "a pinch is all it takes." Youth are very susceptible to these ads as they feature entertainment and sports idols promoting smokeless tobacco products. Peer pressure, curiosity and a youth's family history of tobacco use can also contribute to tobacco experimentation.
Risks associated with smokeless tobacco usage:
Smokeless tobacco used regularly can damage teeth and gum lines, decreasing one's ability to taste and smell. People who use smokeless tobacco have an increased risk of developing cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx and esophagus.
Repetitive use of smokeless tobacco can cause a precancerous condition in the mouth called leukoplakia. Occurring on the lips or inside the cheek, leukoplakia is a white, leathery-appearing patch which results in cancer diagnosis in 3-5 percent of cases.
The risk of cancer in soft oral tissues is almost 50 times greater in long-term users than non-users. About 87 percent of these tumors are attributable to snuff.
Other dangers from smokeless tobacco use include: gum recession that results in exposed roots and increased sensitivity to heat and cold; drifting and tooth loss from damage to gum tissue; abrasion to tooth enamel due to high levels of sand and grit contained in smokeless tobaccos; tooth discoloration and bad breath; tooth decay caused by sugar added to smokeless tobacco to improve its taste; and possible decreased athletic performance due to constriction of blood vessels caused by nicotine use.
Signs of oral cancer:
- Sores that fail to heal and bleed easily
- A lump or thickening
- Whitish patches
- Difficulty in chewing or swallowing food
- Sensation of something in the throat
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