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The Dental Risks of Tobacco Chewing

We have spent decades being warned of the dangers and risks associated with smoking cigarettes. Those who are chronic smokers put themselves at a far greater risk for cancer, heart disease and various lung ailments. Lately, we have learned plenty as well about the risks of second-hand smoke, which puts innocent bystanders at risk. As a result, many states ban smoking in public places and most offices have banned smoking as well, which relegates smokers to the outside. The efforts are paying off: According to one study, smoking among Americans fell almost 50% between the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s, when about 23 percent of adults were smoking.

But the war against tobacco is far from over. A popular alternative to cigarette smoking is chewing tobacco, which is just as dangerous as smoking even if it doesn’t have the accompanying stigma. If you’re chewing tobacco and oral health is important to you, read some of the dental risks of chewing tobacco:

—Cavities: Any good hygiene efforts you make—regular brushing and flossing and twice-annual checkups—will be negated by the greater dental risks of chewing tobacco. There are large amounts of sugar in tobacco and one of the biggest factors in cavity growth, of course, is sugar. The cavity risk associated with chewing tobacco is enhanced by the coarse particles in tobacco that irritate gums and scratch away a tooth’s enamel.

—Gum disease and other issues: Those sugars and particles can not only give you cavities but also pull gums away from the teeth when you place the chew in your mouth. Gum disease can develop over time, which in turn can lead to tooth loss. Other dental risks of chewing tobacco: Bad breath and stained teeth.

—Precancerous lesions: A common issue with chewing tobacco and oral health occurs when eukoplakia, small white pre-cancerous patches, appear at the area of the mouth where the tobacco (i.e. the chew) is placed. The good news is that those who quit chewing tobacco usually see the lesions disappear within a matter of months.

—Cancer: Continued use of chewing tobacco dramatically raises the risk of cancer, in the mouth and throat. The dental risks of chewing tobacco include higher rates of oral cancers such as lips, gums, cheek, tongue, mouth and throat. The surgeries to repair these cancers are risky and permanently altering, as areas of the neck, face, jaw and chin can be disfigured during the operations.

—Addiction: Some believe that those who chew tobacco actually absorb more nicotine than those who “just” smoke cigarettes because the nicotine enters the bloodstream quicker through the mouth. The dental risks of chewing tobacco often extend to the consequences of users leaving tobacco in their mouth overnight, consuming brands with more nicotine more often and either accidentally or purposely swallowing the tobacco juice. The problems of chewing tobacco and oral health get tougher to combat the longer a person remains a tobacco chewer. Oral health, in fact, is just one concern. Nicotine addiction leads to the difficulty involved in quitting, including tough battles with withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, depression, cravings and an increased appetite.

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