Tobacco

Due to increased exposure, spit tobacco users in the South are more likely to pack in cavities and oral cancer than their Northern and Western neighbors, reports the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), an organization of general dentists dedicated to continuing education.

"There may be a higher concentration of spit tobacco users in the Southern region of the United States because this area has always been the tobacco-growing capital," reports AGD spokesperson Craig W. Valentine, DMD. "Generations of families grew up with the tobacco industry and, due to a familial tradition, individuals may grow into the habit of using chewing tobacco."

Continued use of chewing tobacco puts patients can lead to oral cancer, increased cavities, gum disease, delayed wound healing, cardiovascular disease and nicotine addiction.

• Tobacco users who dip or chew 8 to 10 times a day may be receiving the nicotine equivalent of up to 60 cigarettes a day.
• The risk of cancer of the cheek and gums may increase nearly 50-fold among long-term spit tobacco users.
• Spit tobacco users have more root cavities. The tobacco eats away at gums, exposing tooth roots, which are sensitive to hot and cold temperatures, and creating a prime environment for cavity-causing bacteria to flourish.