Health risks of smokeless tobacco

Smokeless tobacco products might expose people to lower levels of harmful chemicals than tobacco smoke. But that doesn't mean these products are a safe substitute for smoking.

Smokeless tobacco has nicotine, which can lead to addiction. It also contains dozens of chemicals that can cause cancer.

Health problems related to smokeless tobacco include the following:

• Addiction. People who use smokeless tobacco may get as much or more nicotine into their bodies as do people who smoke cigarettes. As with smoking, withdrawal from smokeless tobacco can cause intense cravings, anger and a depressed mood.
• Cancer. The use of chewing tobacco and other smokeless tobacco products raises the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and pancreas. Smokeless tobacco also raises the risk of getting small white patches in the mouth called leukoplakia (loo-koh-PLAY-key-uh). These patches could turn into cancer. That's why you might hear them called precancerous.
• Heart disease. Some types of smokeless tobacco increase heart rate and blood pressure. Long-term use of smokeless tobacco raises the risk of dying of heart disease and stroke.
• Dental disease. The sugar and irritants in smokeless tobacco products can cause cavities, worn-down teeth surfaces, teeth staining, bad breath, gum disease, receding gums, bone loss around roots and tooth loss.
• Pregnancy risk. Using smokeless tobacco during pregnancy raises the risk of stillbirth, low birth weight and a heart rate issue in infants.
• Poisoning risk. The candy-like appearance and flavors of some smokeless tobacco products make them attractive to children. Eating these products can cause nicotine poisoning. Nicotine poisoning in children can cause nausea, vomiting, weakness, shaking, coma, trouble breathing and even death.