Smokeless tobacco is finely ground tobacco which is ingested in human body through any other means than smoking i.e. sniffing or chewing. Though one might assume that this is safer than smoking, and though it might be better for the lungs, smokeless tobacco can in fact be as harmful as cigarettes.

Some life-threatening facts about smokeless tobacco:

• Smokeless tobacco contains 28 cancer causing agents. It is addictive and can cause oral cancer. The various forms come in cans or pouches and in some cases even tubes.

• It can also cause other problems like decaying and pulling away of gums, white patches or red sores in mouth, yellowing and loosening of teeth.

• Despite common misconception, smokeless tobacco contains more nicotine than a cigarette. One can of snuff contain as much nicotine as 60 cigarettes.

• Research in America shows that smokeless tobacco is aimed at a younger audience and 9 million people aged 12 and above use it. 46% of those were younger than 18 when they started using smokeless tobacco.

• To make it appealing to younger generation, it comes in various flavours with sweeteners added for e.g. vanilla, mint and fruit.

• Quitting is tougher as there is more nicotine plus the habit of having something in the mouth never disappears but quitting has many benefits immediate and long term for e.g. Better smelling breath, no stains on face or teeth, sores etc go away slowly and full use of mouth return, can eat all types of food again.

• Smokeless tobacco also comes in the form of e-cigarettes which only contain nicotine vapours to induce smell. Even these have cancer causing agents in them and are not 100% safe.

• Other forms are dipping tobacco which means placing it between lips and gums. Similar forms are snuff or snus which are also rubbed into the areas between the inside lips and the gums but have finer grain. Snus doesn’t need to be spit out. Anothertype of smokeless tobacco is dissolvable tobacco which comes in the form of candy and dissolves on the tongue. This does not help is quitting smoking.

• In India, it comes in the form of ‘œGutka’ which is chewed on.

• There are also tobacco chewing gum and paste which is absorbed through the dermis.

• A less hazardous form of smokeless tobacco usually originates in Sweden. South Asia has the most toxic form of smokeless tobacco.

• The form is smokeless tobacco which does not affect health adversely is herbal smokeless tobacco which does not contain any tobacco or nicotine. It comes in the form of Herbal Snus and Herbal Dipping Tobacco and is usually used to help in quitting tobacco.

American baseball player Babe Ruth died of throat cancer caused from chewing tobacco as did Bill Tuttle another Major League player died of oral cancer. The influence of baseball players on youth bought about the rule that smokeless tobacco cannot be used during interviews and can be used during the game only if the can or pouch is not in sight.