Is Chewing Tobacco Bad For You?
Also Known As: chew, dip, snuff, quid, spit tobacco
Short answer
Chewing tobacco isn't as bad for you as cigarettes, but it's still very bad for you and can result in a wide range of unwanted health effects from gum disease to cancer.
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Chewing tobacco contains carcinogens. Using it increases your risks of several different kinds of cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic, it increases your chance of contracting mouth cancer, throat cancer, cancer of the lips and gums, and cancer of the cheek or tongue. Cigarettes are more carcinogenic, but smokeless tobacco is not a safe alternative.
Most kinds of chewing tobacco have lots of sugar added for flavor. That sugar is food for the bacteria in your mouth - they'll release acids that corrode the protective coating on your teeth. That's how you get cavities. Chewing tobacco often contains particles that are large enough to wear on that protective coating. If you use chewing tobacco, you're putting yourself at increased risk for cavities.
If you chew tobacco, your gums will slowly recede from your teeth in the part of your mouth where you hold your chew. This can turn into gum disease after enough time passes - the bones in your jaw will start to get softer and there's a chance that you'll eventually suffer from tooth loss. Sometimes, chewing tobacco can lead to pale, precancerous spots on the inside of your mouth. These lesions aren't cancerous yet, but they could turn into cancer.
Nicotine is a stimulant. It increases your heart rate and your blood pressure. Do it for long enough, and you might start to see long-term changes to your heart health. Some research has linked nicotine to heart disease, although the science isn't yet definitive.
If you don't smoke, there are few upsides to chewing tobacco. If you do smoke, however, chewing tobacco seems to be a safer alternative. Estimates on how much safer vary - the London Royal College of Physicians told ABC that it's ten times safer than cigarettes; the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported it to be fifty times safer, or 2% as dangerous. Although your risk of contracting mouth cancers are higher with chewing tobacco, it's missing the smoke - by far the most lethal element of cigarettes.
In Sweden, use of a kind of chewing tobacco called snus has led to a significant drop-off in rates of lung cancer. Snus is tobacco that comes in a small pouch that you put in your mouth. There’s less need to spit out tobacco juice with snus. Snus is still carcinogenic, however - while safer than conventional chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes, it still increases your chances of contracting various cancers of the mouth or throat, does long-term damage to your teeth, and puts strain on your heart and cardiovascular system. If you’re looking to quit smoking, consider trying nicotine lozenges or gums instead.
Possible short-term side effects
- increased blood pressure
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increased heart rate
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constricted blood vessels
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addiction
Possible long-term side effects
- various forms of cancer
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cavities and gum disease
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tooth loss
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precancerous lesions in mouth
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heart disease
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heart attack
Ingredients to be aware of
Healthier alternatives
- nicotine lozenges or gums
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Written by Sean McNulty
Published on: 10-09-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Sean McNulty
Published on: 10-09-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
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