Last week I talked about the increased potential of tooth loss in people who utilize cigarettes.  This week I would like to look at some more tobacco products, namely, the “spit tobaccos.”  These include a variety of leaf, plug and snuff (dip) products.

Unfortunately, the southern region of the United States takes “top honors” on the usage of spit tobacco products.  According to a national study of chewing tobacco use in the United States, for all those that use tobacco, 57 percent are from the South, compared to 27 percent in the Midwest, 13 percent in the West and 3.5 percent in the Northeast.  Continued use of chewing tobacco puts patients at risk for precancerous oral lesions (oral leukoplakia) that can lead to oral cancer, increased cavities, gum disease, delayed wound healing, cardiovascular disease and nicotine addiction.

Research also has revealed an increase between middle school students and high school students using tobacco products.  Four percent of grammar school boys use chewing tobacco.  This percentage leaps to 20 percent for high school boys; half of which already have pre-cancerous white patches in their mouths.

Many young boys begin to use spit tobacco products when they become involved in sports, particularly baseball, thinking it will improve their performance.  Starter tobacco products geared towards teens usually have artificial flavors, such as cherry, and sugars added to mask the bitter taste of tobacco, and buffered so little nicotine is absorbed into the blood stream.  Once they are addicted, they move up to products that release more nicotine to get their 'fix' and dispense with candy flavored products to seek that real tobacco flavor.  Typically, kids develop a tolerance to spit tobacco products faster than cigarettes, which increases their use. 

Consider some of the following “Chewing tobacco statistics”:

Among high school seniors who have ever used smokeless tobacco, almost three-fourths began by the ninth grade.  Tobacco users who dip or chew 8 to 10 times a day may be receiving the nicotine equivalent of 30 to 40 cigarettes a day.
Spit tobacco causes leukoplakia, a disease of the mouth characterized by white patches and oral lesions on the cheeks, gums, and/or tongue.  Leukoplakia, which can lead to oral cancer, occurs in over half of all users in the first six months of beginning regular use.  Studies have found that 70 to 78 percent of spit tobacco users have oral lesions.
The risk of developing oral cancer for long-term spit tobacco users is approximately six times greater than for non-users.
Children who use spit tobacco products are 4 to 6 times more likely to develop oral cancer than non-users.
Chewing tobacco users have more root cavities.  The tobacco eats away at gums, exposing tooth roots which are sensitive to temperature and bacteria, and creates a prime environment for cavity-causing bacteria to flourish.
Double dippers are those who mix snuff and chewing tobacco.  They are more likely to develop precancerous lesions than those who use only one type of spit tobacco.
Tobacco products are addictive and a hard habit to break, but I would encourage those who utilize the products to consider quitting.  Your health may depend on it!