Quitting Smokeless Tobacco

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Topic Overview

What is smokeless tobacco?

Smokeless tobacco comes in two forms: snuff and chewing tobacco.

Snuff is finely ground tobacco sold in cans or pouches. Most of the time, snuff is used by putting a "pinch" or "dip" between the lower lip or cheek and the gum. A newer type of snuff is called snus.
Chewing tobacco is sold as loose leaves, plugs, or twists. It is chewed or placed between the cheek and the gum or teeth.

The nicotine in snuff and chew is absorbed through tissues in the mouth.

Why should you quit?

There are plenty of reasons to quit. Snuff and chew are harmful. They are not risk-free alternatives to smoking. They're addictive. And they can cause serious health problems.

Using smokeless tobacco can lead to:

White patches or red sores in your mouth, called leukoplakia. These can turn into mouth cancer (oral cancer) involving the lip, tongue, or cheek. In fact, you have a 50% greater risk of getting mouth cancer if you use smokeless tobacco, compared to people who don't use it.
Tooth loss and other dental problems.
Gum disease. Your gums may pull away from your teeth and not grow back.

Quitting smokeless tobacco has benefits you can see. Your mouth sores will slowly start to go away. Your gums will begin to look healthier. Seeing these changes may motivate you to stay tobacco-free.

You probably have your own reasons to quit. Maybe you want to set a good example for your family. Or maybe you want to avoid other health problems. You might want to quit because you feel ashamed of your habit. Whatever the reason, make sure it is meaningful to you.

Why is it so hard to quit?

It's just as hard to quit smokeless tobacco as it is to quit smoking. Quitting tobacco is hard because your body craves the nicotine. Giving it up is more than just kicking a bad habit. Your body has to stop the cravings. That's why you may feel grouchy, restless, or sad for the first 2 to 3 weeks after you quit. For some people, these feelings can last several weeks. Nicotine gum, lozenges, patches, and other medicines can help reduce the cravings.

But it's not just the nicotine that makes it hard to quit. It's the habit of chewing and dipping. It's part of your daily routine. You enjoy it. You may use it to deal with stress. And when you quit, you have to give all that up (or at least find something to replace it).

Quitting chew or snuff isn't easy, but you can do it. Just thinking about quitting is the first step.

How can you quit smokeless tobacco?

Quitting smokeless tobacco is a lot like quitting smoking. Cigarettes, chew, and snuff all have nicotine and are addictive. And they are all tough to quit. The good news is that you don't have to do it alone.

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WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: June 04, 2010

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.