Why is smoking harmful?
SMOKELESS TOBACCO or CHEWING TOBACCO: An average size dip or chew of tobacco held in the mouth for 30 minutes provides as much nicotine as about 3 cigarettes. This makes smokeless tobacco highly addictive. Even though there is no smoke, tobacco held between the cheeks and gums releases chemicals that cause changes in the oral mucous tissues in as little as seven days. As the tissues of the mouth degenerate under the influence of the harmful chemicals, precancerous white or red patches (leukoplakias or erythroplakias) may develop. Oral cancer includes cancers of the mouth, parts of the throat, and pharynx or voice box. Oral cancer is very difficult to treat because both the cancer and the treatments make it impossible to eat a proper diet. Only half of those with the disease survive more than five years. About 30,000 new cases of oral cancer (mouth, oral cavity, and pharynx) are diagnosed every year, and more than 8,000 people die from mouth cancer every year.[3] Smoking causes wrinkles
