Smokeless Tobacco
Smokeless tobacco or spit tobacco users absorb two to three times the amount of addictive nicotine as those who smoke cigarettes. Smokeless tobacco is a leading cause of oral cancer, which affects nearly 40,000 Americans each year. Oral cancer will cause 8,000 deaths, almost one life per hour, 24 hours a day.
Signs and symptoms of oral cancer may include:
- A sore that does not heal
- A lump or thickening of the skin or lining of the mouth
- A white or reddish patch on the inside of the mouth
- Poorly fitting dentures
- Tongue pain
- Jaw pain and/or stiffness
- Difficulty or painful chewing or swallowing
- Feeling as if something is caught in the throat
If you have any of the above symptoms, see an otolaryngologist (ENT) or dentist as soon as possible.