What’s It to Me? – Other Effects
Here are a few things you can expect to happen!
- Gum disease:
- Direct contact causes gums to recede resulting in the teeth becoming loose.
- Tooth disease:
- The large amounts of sugar in smokeless tobacco mixes with the plaque on your teeth. This eats away the tooth enamel and results in cavities and chronic painful sores.
- Heart Disease:
- A high and constant amount of nicotine entering your body can result in increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and irregular heart beats. Nicotine also constricts blood vessels resulting in slower reaction time and dizziness.
- Reduced athletic performance:
- Research has indicated that smokeless tobacco users have slower, more irregular movements and the nicotine may be detrimental to performance of complex tasks.
- Spending time with just a few buds or alone:
- Constantly spitting, having gunk in your teeth, having bad breath, and having brown teeth can sure cut down on your dating calendar.
- Leukoplakia:
- Juice from tobacco held in one place will irritate your mouth. White, leathery patches may form—this is called leukoplakia. The patches may be different in size, shape, and appearance. THESE ARE CONSIDERED PRECANCEROUS AND YOU SHOULD SEE YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY IF YOU FIND ONE IN YOUR MOUTH.
- Cancer:
- Cancers usually occur where the tobacco is held in the mouth. Surgery for cancer of the mouth may lead to removal of parts of your face, lip, tongue, cheek, or lip.
Don’t be Trippin’ — Stop Your Dippin’.
Some pages on this website are created and maintained by kids—members of Texas 4-H.