What to know

1. Your mouth

• Can cause gum disease, tooth decay and tooth loss.
• Creates white patches or sores in the mouth.
• Exposes tooth roots by making gums recede.
• Stains teeth and causes bad breath.
• Dulls your sense of taste.

2. Nicotine and addiction

• Gets into your body more slowly than smoking, but lasts longer.
• Keeps nicotine in your blood for hours.
• Can give you as much, and often more, nicotine than cigarettes.
• Makes your body strongly dependent, leading to withdrawal.
• Causes cravings that feel like the urge to smoke.

3. Cancer risks

• Increases your risk of cancer in the mouth, throat and esophagus.
• Has at least 28 chemicals that cause cancer.
• Can also lead to pancreatic and kidney cancers.
• Can create white patches in your mouth (called leukoplakia) that may turn cancerous.
• The more often and the longer you use it, the higher the risk.

4. Heart and circulation risks

• Makes your heart beat faster and raises blood pressure.
• Narrows blood vessels, which slows blood flow.
• Increases your chances of heart disease and stroke.
• Can make existing heart problems worse.

• Myth: Chewing is safer than smoking. Fact: It still harms your mouth and body.
• Myth: Using both will help you quit. Fact: It often makes quitting harder.
• Myth: “Natural” or “organic” means safe. Fact: These products carry the same risk.

• Myth: Spitting removes the harmful chemicals. Fact: It does not.
• Myth: It’s less addictive than cigarettes. Fact: It can be just as strong or stronger.