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Substance
smokeless tobacco Audio
smoke·less to·bac·co [ smoke-les tuh-ba-koh ]
Subclass of:
Tobacco
Also called:
Chewing tobacco; Dip; Oral tobacco; Snuff; Spit tobacco
Definitions related to smokeless tobacco:
  • Many people who chew tobacco or dip snuff think it's safer than smoking. But you don't have to smoke tobacco for it to be dangerous. Chewing or dipping carries risks like: Cancer of the mouth; Decay of exposed tooth roots; Pulling away of the gums from the teeth; White patches or red sores in the mouth that can turn to cancer. Recent research shows the dangers of smokeless tobacco may go beyond the mouth. It might also play a role in other cancers, heart disease and stroke. Smokeless tobacco contains more nicotine than cigarettes. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug that makes it hard to stop using tobacco once you start. Having a quit date and a quitting plan can help you stop successfully. NIH: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
    MedlinePlus
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • Tobacco that is not smoked but used in another form such as chewing tobacco or snuff.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Tobacco whose use does not produce smoke; associated with increased risk of oral cancer.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • (tobacco, smokeless) Any product of NICOTIANA TABACUM that is not smoked but is either inhaled through the nose, chewed, or stored in cheek pouches.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.

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