Is Smokeless Tobacco a Safer Alternative to Cigarettes?

Well, there is a mixed opinion on the answer.  There are four main issues with smokeless tobacco and the beliefs associated with each.

Way to quit smoking  

 

According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, data from Sweden suggests that smokeless tobacco is a cessation aid for SOME cigarette smokers, where findings from the U.S. studies do not agree.  Smokeless tobacco is not widely used for smoking cessation in the United States. At present, there is insufficient evidence for smokeless tobacco as an effective cigarette smoking cessation aid.

Is not addicting

 

Then there is the addition issue that cigarettes and nicotine have, addiction.  The National Cancer Institute states that it is unclear, what proportion of all smokeless tobacco users are addicted. Professional baseball players who use smokeless tobacco intermittently, often only in association with playing their game, for the most part do not seem to be addicted to smokeless tobacco.

Does not cause periodontal or gum disease

 

Thirty-three epidemiological studies consistently show a strong dose-related effect of current snuff on oral mucosal lesion prevalence.  Evidence from nine studies suggests a possible relationship with use of smokeless tobacco, particularly chewing tobacco, and the risk of dental caries.  Snuff is not clearly related to gingivitis or periodontal diseases. Limited evidence suggests chewing tobacco is unrelated to periodontal or gingival diseases, according to BioMed Central.

Cancer is not caused by smokeless tobacco

 

Neoplasm is an abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should.  Neoplasms may be benign (not cancer), or malignant (cancer).  A neoplasm is also called a tumor.  It is unclear how smokeless tobacco contributes to hyperplasia (generalized overgrowth of the gum tissue), swelling of oral tissues, damaged salivary gland, oral mucosa lesions, etc.

Smokeless tobacco certainly increases risk of oral mucosal lesions, but reviewers disagree as to other conditions (noted below), according to Phillip Morris Products Research and Development Division  in Switzerland.  

• Oral mucosal lesions: Thirty-three epidemiological studies consistently show a strong dose-related effect of current snuff on oral mucosal lesion prevalence. In Scandinavia, users have a near 100% prevalence of a characteristic "snuff-induced lesion", but prevalence of the varied lesions reported in the USA is lower. Associations with chewing tobacco are weaker. The lack of clear association with former use suggests reversibility following cessation, consistent with experimental studies showing rapid lesion regression on quitting.

• Periodontal and gingival diseases: Two of four studies report a significant association of snuff with attachment loss and four out of eight with gingival recession. Snuff is not clearly related to gingivitis or periodontal diseases. Limited evidence suggests chewing tobacco is unrelated to periodontal or gingival diseases.

• Tooth loss: Swedish studies show no association with snuff, but one US study reported an association with snuff, and another with chewing tobacco.

• Dental caries: Evidence from nine studies suggests a possible relationship with use of smokeless tobacco, particularly chewing tobacco, and the risk of dental caries.

• Oral pain: Limited evidence precludes any clear conclusion.

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