Smokeless Tobacco: Q & A

Q: How is chewing tobacco packaged?
A: Chewing tobacco comes in the form of loose leaf, plug, or twist.

Q: What is snuff?
A: Snuff is finely ground tobacco that can be dry, moist, or in sachets (tea bag-like pouches). It is more concentrated than chewing tobacco.

Q: Is smokeless tobacco safer than cigarettes?
A: Not necessarily. Smokeless tobacco contains 28 cancer-causing agents (carcinogens). It is a known cause of cancer, as it increases the risk of developing cancer of the oral cavity.

Q: Can you get addicted to smokeless tobacco?
A: Smokeless tobacco use can lead to nicotine addiction and dependence.

Q: Can using smokeless tobacco lead to cigarette use?
A: Adolescents who use smokeless tobacco are more likely to become cigarette smokers.

Q: What are some oral health problems associated with smokeless tobacco use?
A: Leukoplakia (a lesion of the soft tissue that consists of a white patch or plaque that cannot be scraped off) and recession of the gums.

(www.cdc.gov)