If You Quit Chewing Tobacco Will it Cut Your Risk of Gum Cancer?

Quitting chewing tobacco will absolutely reduce the risk of developing gum cancer. The Mouth Cancer Foundation claims that, even if someone has been chewing tobacco for years, quitting will still reduce the risk of gum cancer. Many other health benefits also occur when a person quits chewing tobacco.

Many Cancers

• Chewing tobacco increases a person's odds of developing not just gum cancer but also lip, tongue and cheek cancers. Cancer may also develop on the roof and floor of the mouth.

Carcinogens

• According to the National Cancer Institute, there are 28 cancer-causing chemicals in chewing tobacco.

Addiction

• Avoiding or conquering an addiction is another benefit to quitting chewing tobacco. The National Cancer Institute reports that up to four times more addictive nicotine is absorbed when chewing versus smoking tobacco. The nicotine absorbed when chewing tobacco also stays in the bloodstream longer.

Misconceptions

• Contrary to popular belief, chewing tobacco is not a safe substitute for smoking it. It is also a myth that chewing tobacco can help smokers quit.

Perentages

• The Mouth Cancer Foundation claims that 90 percent of the people who have had mouth cancer used tobacco.