Spit Tobacco

Skoal, Kodiak, Copenhagen, Levi Garrett, Beech Nut. Just a pinch between your cheek and gum…yep. Tobacco could never be easier. No smoke, no matches or lighters. A great faded circle on your wranglers. The ads make it look harmless, some of them even come in their own pouch to keep the tobacco from sticking between your teeth. But the yellow stains, the stench, is still the same. And the cancer causing tobacco is still there, right between your cheek and gum.

Nicotine is a stimulant, increases your heart rate, make you feel smarter for a few minutes.  You aren’t.  And nicotine is addictive. A few days of spit tobacco and your body craves the stimulant, your brain seeks out the short-lived “high”. And the cancer causing tobacco is still there. Yes, it makes your teeth yellow and eventually brown. The cool round fade will disappear eventually. But the thick white spot on the inside of your gums may not fade. It may be the early stage of cancer.

So it’s best not to use spit tobacco. And if you’ve got that white spot in your mouth, go visit your healthcare provider. Get it checked out. 

- Jack Westfall MD, Yuma Clinic and University of Colorado