Quit the dip!
stop chewing smokeless tobacco.
Statistics about smokeless tobacco:
- 20% of high school boys and 2% of high school girls use smokeless tobacco
- Of the 12 to 14 million American users, one third are under age 21, and more than half of those developed the habit before they were 13.
- About 75 percent of daily users of smokeless tobacco will get leukoplakia (a type of oral cancer)
- Chewing tobacco contains 28 carcinogens
- Approximately 31,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. in 2006; almost two-thirds are male. Estimated number of deaths from oral cancer in 2004 is at 4830 men and 2400 women
- Long term tobacco users may be 50 percent greater risk of developing cancer of the cheeks and gums
- Smokeless tobacco is also believed to contribute to cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure
- Dive 8 to 10 times a day may bring as much nicotine as smoking 30-40 cigarettes
Chemicals found in smokeless tobacco:
- Cadmium: used in car batteries
- Formaldehyde: embalming fluid
- Lead: a poison
- Nicotine: an addictive drug
- N-Nitrosamines: cancer-causing chemical
- Polonium 210: nuclear waste
- Acetaldehyde: irritant
- Hydrazine: toxic chemical
- Benzopyrene: cancer-causing chemical
- Uranium 235: used in nuclear weapons
Problems caused by using smokeless tobacco:
- If you bought a can of smokeless tobacco a day you would approximately be spending $2,000 a year.
- Oral cancer has been shown to occur several times more frequently among snuff dippers than among non-tobacco users, and the excess risk of cancers of the cheek and gum may reach nearly fifty-fold among long-term snuff users
TOOTH ABRASION - Grit and sand in smokeless tobacco products scratches teeth and wears away the hard surface or enamel. Premature loss of tooth enamel can cause added sensitivity and may require corrective treatment.
GUM RECESSION - injured gums pull away from the teeth, exposing root surfaces and leaving teeth sensitive to heat and cold. Erosion of critical bone support leads to loosened teeth that can be permanently lost.
INCREASED TOOTH DECAY - Sugar is added to smokeless tobacco during the curing and processing to improve its taste.
TOOTH DISCOLORATION AND BAD BREATH - Common traits of long-term smokeless tobacco users are stained teeth and bad breath.
UNHEALTHY EATING HABITS - Chewing tobacco lessens a person's sense of taste and ability to smell. As a result, users tend to eat more salty and sweet foods, both of which are harmful if consumed in excess.
ORAL CANCER - With the practice of "chewing" and "dipping," tobacco and its irritating juices are left in contact with gums, cheeks and/or lips for prolonged periods of time. This can result in a condition called leukoplakia.
OTHER CANCERS - All forms of smokeless tobacco contain high concentrations of cancer-causing agents. These substances subject users to increased cancer risk not only of the oral cavity, but also the pharynx, larynx and esophagus.
DANGER SIGNS:
* A lump or white patch
* A prolonged sore throat
* Difficulty in chewing
* Restricted movement of the tongue or jaws
* A feeling of something in the throat
Ways to quit:
- chew gum
- nicotine patch
- chew sunflower seeds
- lozenges
- get support from your doctor or a support group
Gum Recession
Before and After of only four years of chewing.
Sources:
- quittobacco.com
- livestrong.com
- teenhealth.org
- cdc.com