Smokeless Tobacco

On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Prevention and Risk Factors

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics

See, Play and Learn

• No links available

Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Teenagers

Summary

Many people who chew tobacco or dip snuff think it's safer than smoking. But you don't have to smoke tobacco for it to be dangerous. Chewing or dipping carries risks like

• Cancer of the mouth
• Decay of exposed tooth roots
• Pulling away of the gums from the teeth
• White patches or red sores in the mouth that can turn to cancer

Recent research shows the dangers of smokeless tobacco may go beyond the mouth. It might also play a role in other cancers, heart disease and stroke.

Smokeless tobacco contains more nicotine than cigarettes. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug that makes it hard to stop using tobacco once you start. Having a quit date and a quitting plan can help you stop successfully.

NIH: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Start Here

• Smokeless Tobacco (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
• Smokeless Tobacco and Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

• BeTobaccoFree.gov (Department of Health and Human Services)

Related Issues

• Cancer and Tobacco Use (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Smokeless Tobacco: Health Effects (Department of Health and Human Services)

Specifics

• Betel Quid with Tobacco (Gutka) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Chewing Tobacco: Not a Safe Alternative to Cigarettes (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• E-Cigs, Menthol & Dip (National Cancer Institute, Tobacco Control Research Branch) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Tobacco, Smokeless (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: State-Specific Patterns of Cigarette Smoking, Smokeless Tobacco Use, and E-Cigarette Use...
• Article: Socio-economic and demographic determinants of tobacco use in Kenya: findings from...
• Article: Oxidant-antioxidant status and assessment of cardiovascular morbidity in Pan Masala containing...
• Smokeless Tobacco -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• American Cancer Society
• National Cancer Institute Also in Spanish
• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Also in Spanish

Children

• Smoking Stinks! (For Kids) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

• Smokeless Tobacco (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish