Tobacco was introduced to the western culture by the Spanish explores in the early 16th century. Initially smoked through pipes, it rapidly gained popularity leading to its chewed smokeless forms including plug, leaf and snuff.

Just about everyone one knows smoking is bad for their health. There has been a significant decrease in American adults who smoke, roughly 10% less over the last two decades, from 36% to 26%. Over the same two decades however there has been an increase in the use of smokeless tobacco. It is estimated that over 12 million Americans use it, 3 million under age 21. What about smokeless tobacco?

Smokeless tobacco use is detrimental to oral health in several ways. The most common condition is gingival recession, where the abrasive tobacco has worn away the gum tissue, exposing the tooth/teeths root structure. Often beginners will try a milder form of snuff which tastes sweet, this is because of high sugar levels which can lead to increase cavity rates, particularly root decay. A reactive thickening of the lining of the mouth directly related to the irritation from tobacco known as hyperkeratosis may occur, this should be a warning to the user to stop immediately! If used long enough an increased risk for epithelial dysplasia (irregular growth of the oral tissue) or carcinoma (cancer) occurs. Changes in the mouths lining that are red (erythroplasia), or white (leukoplakia), are considered to be pre malignant due to their unpredictability of malignant transformation. If normal appearance does not return within fourteen days of quitting tobacco use, biopsy of the region should be strongly encouraged to rule out malignancy.

If you smoke, you not only raise your chance of having heart or lung disease  ADD or oral cancer but the tar and nicotine in cigarettes makes you more prone to developing gum disease;