Chewing tobacco, spit tobacco, snuff, pinch, dip. Some even optimistically call it smokeless tobacco is BAD for your health. Whatever you call it, you can be sure that chew is the last thing you should do! So, let’s take a look at why it is so harmful.
- Chewing tobacco causes oral cancer.
Areas of the mouth where the tobacco is placed are highly cancer prone. The teeth, lining and gums are exposed to 28 known carcinogens that are in the ‘smokeless tobacco’ leading to oral cancer. It can also lead to cardiovascular disease. - It ruins your oral hygiene and health.
Cigarette smoking and using smokeless tobacco causes an equal increase in the level of nicotine in the blood causing elevations of blood pressure, certain blood lipids, and heart rate. Catecholamines are released the body as well, which increases heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels. All good for a ‘high,’ but downright bad for your health in the long run. - Halitosis or constant bad breath is another major side effect of chewing tobacco.
The juices that spread in the mouth while chewing attacks the gum, teeth and mouth lining that causes decay and leads to bad breath.
It is a challenge to get off dip once you are hooked, but quitting has many benefits. Improved health, better lifestyle, greater chances of scoring a kiss, and a longer life are just some of the reasons to quit.
