There are a lot of terms to describe smokeless tobacco products, for instance, oral, chewing, snuff, spit, and spitless tobacco.

All forms of oral tobacco have chemicals known to cause cancer (carcinogens). These products can cause cancer of the mouth, pancreas, and esophagus (the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach). Oral and smokeless tobacco also cause many other health problems, such as gum disease, destruction of the bone sockets around the teeth, and tooth loss. They cause bad breath and stained teeth, too.

Smokeless tobacco is less lethal than cigarettes, but using any form of tobacco puts you at serious health risks. Smokeless tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking. The bottom line: All forms of tobacco can be deadly.

What is smokeless tobacco?

There are 2 basic forms of smokeless tobacco: snuff and chewing tobacco. But other forms of smokeless tobacco are also sold.

Snuff is finely ground tobacco packaged in cans or pouches. It is sold as dry or moist.

Moist snuff is used by placing a pinch, dip, lipper, or quid, between the lower lip or cheek and gum. The nicotine in the snuff is absorbed through the tissues of the mouth. Moist snuff is also available in small, teabag-like pouches or sachets that can be placed between the cheek and gum. These are designed to be both “smoke-free” and “spit-free” and are marketed as a discreet way to use tobacco.

Dry snuff is sold in a powdered form and is used by sniffing or inhaling the powder up the nose.

Chewing tobacco comes as long strands of loose leaves, plugs, or twists of tobacco. Pieces, commonly called plugs, wads, or chew, are chewed or placed between the cheek and gum or teeth. The nicotine in the piece of chewing tobacco is absorbed through the mouth tissues. The user spits out the brown juice – saliva that soaked through the tobacco.

Smokeless tobacco products also come in other forms. Snus (sounds like snoose) is a finely ground form of moist snuff made of air-cured tobacco, water, salt, and flavorings that first came from Sweden and Norway. Snus is most commonly packaged in small pouches, but can also be used like loose moist snuff.

Other smokeless products can be bought in the United States. Some that are available or are being tested include lozenges, tabs, tablets, strips, and sticks.