What cancers are caused by or associated with smokeless tobacco?
Smokeless tobacco users increase their risk for cancer of the oral cavity. Oral cancer can include cancer of the lip, tongue, cheeks, gums, and the floor and roof of the mouth. People who use oral snuff for a long time have a much greater risk for cancer of the cheek and gum than people who do not use smokeless tobacco. The possible increased risk for other types of cancer from smokeless tobacco is being studied. What are some of the other harmful effects of smokeless tobacco? Some of the other effects of smokeless tobacco use include addiction to nicotine, oral leukoplakia (white mouth lesions that can become cancerous), gum disease, and gum recession (when the gum pulls away from the teeth). Possible increased risks for heart disease, diabetes, and reproductive problems are being studied. Is smokeless tobacco a good substitute for cigarettes? In 1986, the Surgeon General concluded that the use of smokeless tobacco is not a safe substitute for smoking cigarettes. It can cause cancer a
