Smokeless Tobacco and Your Oral Health

In today’s world of instant and widespread information, the dangers of smoking and other tobacco use are well-known, albeit not always heeded. Because of the dangerous chemicals that tobacco contains and its highly addictive properties, tobacco use is one the most significant risk factors to many people’s oral and overall health. However, just because you don’t burn smokeless tobacco doesn’t mean that its ingredients are any less harmless. Today, we explore the dangers of smokeless tobacco, including its risk to your oral health and a glimpse at the ingredients that your oral tissues are exposed to during its use.

Smokeless Tobacco and Oral Health

Much of the danger regarding cigarettes focuses on the smoke created by burning tobacco, which releases a plethora of chemicals that are not reported among the cigarette’s original ingredients. However, even smokeless tobacco contains various components that can interfere with the normal function of healthy oral cells. As a result, patients who chew tobacco are more likely to lose teeth due to periodontal disease because their oral cells’ ability to heal is greatly inhibited. Also, smokeless tobacco, as well as smoking tobacco, is among the most serious instigators of oral cancer, which affects nearly 40,000 new patients every year.

A Glimpse at the Ingredients

Wondering what makes smokeless tobacco such a threat to your smile? Below are just a few of the ingredients found in smokeless tobacco that can wreak havoc with your oral and overall health:

• Cadmium
• Formaldehyde
• Hydrazine
• Lead
• Nicotine
• Benzopyrene