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Smokeless tobacco is an addictive tobacco product that isn’t burned or inhaled, like cigarettes. There are two main types that you either pack in your mouth or inhale through your nose. Smokeless tobacco can affect your mouth and nasal tissues, teeth and heart.
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Smokeless tobacco is shredded or crushed tobacco that you chew or place in your mouth, usually between your gums and your cheek or lips. You may also sniff or snort it up your nose. Unlike cigarettes, you don’t smoke it.
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Smokeless tobacco contains nicotine that your body absorbs through the tissues in your mouth or nose. Nicotine is an addictive substance. It’s also a stimulant. That means when it enters your system, it causes your adrenal glands to release more adrenaline (epinephrine). This increases your heart rate, which causes more blood to flow to your muscles and brain. It also binds to brain receptors and causes your brain to release more dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical that gives you pleasure.
Other names for smokeless tobacco include oral smokeless products or nasal smokeless products.
The two main types of smokeless tobacco in the U.S. are:
Chewing tobacco is large, dried (cured), dark brown tobacco leaves — it looks like tea leaves. It may be a loose pile of leaves, or it may look like a dense brick (plug) or braid (twist). People typically pinch the leaves between their thumbs and pointer fingers and place it between their gums and cheeks or lips. Or they may cut or bite a piece off the plug or chew and place it in the same area. Most people spit out tobacco juices when they use smokeless tobacco orally. But some people swallow some of it.
Snuff is finely crushed tobacco. It can either be moist (dip) or dry, and manufacturers typically add artificial flavors, like mint or fruit, and other additives to it. People typically pinch moist snuff between their thumbs and fingers and pack it between their gums and cheeks or lips. But it may also come in tiny pouches that resemble tea bags. Dry snuff typically enters your body by snorting it up your nose.
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Snus (snüs; pronounced like “snoose”) is a dry snuff that comes in a pouch. People typically place it between their upper lip and gums. But some put it under their tongues.
Snus originates from Sweden.
Smokeless tobacco contains around 30 chemicals that have a connection to cancer. Tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) are the most carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals in smokeless tobacco. Using smokeless tobacco causes or increases your risk of developing:
Other smokeless tobacco risks include:
Using smokeless tobacco while pregnant can cause early labor and stillbirth.
Many people incorrectly assume that smokeless tobacco is harmless because you don’t inhale it. But the chemicals you absorb through your tissues or ingest in your saliva (spit) still contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals. Smokeless tobacco isn’t safe. It can cause life-threatening conditions.
Some people use smokeless tobacco to help them quit smoking. But smokeless tobacco may not help you quit smoking, and you may end up addicted to smokeless tobacco, as well. Talk to a healthcare provider if you smoke and want to quit. They can recommend different ways to stop.
The chemicals you absorb when you use smokeless tobacco can cause inflammation in your mouth, nose and blood vessels. Inflammation can also affect the layer of cells that help your blood vessels tighten and relax (endothelium). Endothelial inflammation increases your risk of developing a buildup of fatty substances (plaque) in your blood vessels. It also makes you more likely to get a secondary infection. A secondary infection is an infection that develops while treating another infection.
Smokeless tobacco inflammation can also:
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Any type of tobacco use can be very addictive and cause serious health conditions. Smokeless tobacco and cigarettes contain similar amounts of nicotine.
You must be 21 or older to purchase any tobacco products in the U.S. This includes smokeless tobacco as well as:
There are many reasons people use smokeless tobacco. Some people think it’s safer than cigarettes or easier to use because it doesn’t produce smoke. Others think they can use it to quit smoking. But it’s a harmful, highly addictive product, and it won’t help you quit nicotine. The chemicals in smokeless tobacco pose serious risks to your long-term health.
If you don’t use smokeless tobacco, don’t start. But if you need help quitting, know that you’re not alone. Healthcare providers can answer any questions you have and recommend the best ways to quit. They can also point you toward support groups or other resources, including texting and apps, to help you break the habit.
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Last reviewed on 02/19/2025.
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