Tobacco companies want you to think of smokeless tobacco as a more discreet way of using tobacco in places where smoking or vaping is not allowed. Smokeless tobacco might sound like a way to use nicotine without the danger to your lungs, but chewing tobacco is still harmful.
Chewing tobacco typically comes in a shredded form, a plug or a pouch. No matter the delivery method, it still contains nicotine — the addictive chemical in tobacco. In fact, chewing tobacco delivers more nicotine than cigarettes, making it even more addictive.
Not only is smokeless tobacco highly addictive, but it is still full of harmful chemicals. According to the CDC, smokeless tobacco causes cancer of the mouth, esophagus, and pancreas as well as oral diseases like gum disease, tooth decay and tooth loss.