Smokeless tobacco is not a
safe alternative to cigarettes:
• Smokeless tobacco contains 28 cancer-causing agents.
• People who use smokeless tobacco are 50 times more likely
to get cancer of the cheek and gums.
• Oral health problems strongly associated with smokeless
tobacco use are leukoplakia (a lesion of the soft tissue
that consists of a white patch or plaque that cannot be
scraped off) gum disease and recession of the gums.
• Smokeless tobacco use can lead to nicotine addiction and
dependence.
• The chemicals in smokeless tobacco products enter the
bloodstream through tiny cuts from abrasives such as
fiberglass.
Youth usage of smokeless tobacco is
considerable:
• Adolescents who use smokeless tobacco are more likely to
become cigarette smokers.
• Overall, 3.5% of Florida middle school students used
smokeless tobacco at least once during the past 30
days.
• Overall, 5.9% of high school students used smokeless
tobacco at least once during the past 30 days.
Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention