What Are Smokeless Tobacco Products, Including Dip, Snuff, Snus, and Chewing Tobacco?

Most smokeless tobacco use involves placing the product between the gum and the cheek or lip. Smokeless tobacco is a noncombusted tobacco product.

There are two main types of smokeless tobacco that have been traditionally marketed in the United States: chewing tobacco and snuff, including snus.*

• Chewing tobacco is cured tobacco in the form of loose leaf, plug, or twist.
• Dry snuff is loose finely cut or powdered dry tobacco that is typically sniffed through the nostrils.
• Moist snuff and snus are cut tobacco that can be loose or pouched and placed in the mouth. Dip is a common form of moist snuff.
• Some dissolvable tobacco products can be classified as smokeless tobacco products.

* If a snus or other smokeless tobacco product claims to be made with synthetic nicotine, it is subject to requirements for non-tobacco-nicotine (NTN) products.

Are You Looking for General Health and Safety Information Related to Smokeless Tobacco Products, Including Dip, Snuff, Snus, and Chewing Tobacco?

Smokeless tobacco is addictive and contains chemicals that make it more dangerous than you may think. “Smokeless” in “smokeless tobacco” does not mean this type of tobacco product is harmless. Although you don’t inhale smokeless tobacco, there are still more than 4,000 chemicals in these products, and as many as 30 of these have been linked to cancer.

There is no safe level of smokeless tobacco use. And people who use smokeless tobacco can experience health consequences at any age, even as teenagers. Despite age restrictions on its use, teens are still at risk for the negative effects of smokeless tobacco use, particularly white, rural, teen boys who often see their male role models using “dip.”

Did You Know?

Although all tobacco products are potentially harmful and people who do not use them should not start, FDA granted modified risk granted orders for some snus smokeless tobacco products. This means these specific products may be advertised with information about their lower risks of certain health effects when compared to smoking cigarettes.

Think dip is safe? Think again. Dip is still tobacco.

There are at least 30 chemicals in dip that are linked to cancer, including lead, uranium, and arsenic. Also, dip has more nicotine than cigarettes. Dipping two cans a week gives you as much nicotine as smoking 3½ packs of cigarettes a day for one week. Nicotine from dip stays in your blood longer than nicotine from smoking, and that can make it harder to quit.

Dip can harm your mouth.

It may cause:

• Cancer of the mouth.
• White patches and red sores in the mouth that can turn into cancer over time.
• The roots of your teeth to decay (break down).
• Your teeth to fall out.

Using dip can cause problems in other parts of the body.

For example:

• Studies show that using dip may cause pancreatic cancer.
• It’s possible that dip plays a role in causing heart disease and stroke.

There are a lot of good reasons to quit dip. Do you want to be healthier? Look your best? Save money? Whatever your reasons are, quitting dip is the right choice.

Think about what’s most important to you right now. Does dipping help or get in the way of what’s important? You can also try asking yourself these questions:

• What do I miss out on when I dip?
• How does dip affect my health?
• Is dip stopping me from looking the way I want?
• What do my friends and family think about dip?
• What will happen to me if I keep using dip?
• How will my life get better when I quit?

Remembering why you want to quit can inspire you to stop using dip for good.

Need more reasons to quit dip?

There may be benefits of quitting that you haven’t even thought of yet, including some that kick in as soon as you stop. For example:

• You’ll look better without dip in your mouth.
• You’ll have more money to spend on things you enjoy.
• No more worrying about when or where you can dip.
• Food will taste better.

Over time, quitting dip also means:

• No more tobacco stains on your teeth and gums.
• No more sores or white patches in your mouth.
• You’ll be less likely to get sick (like with a cold).
• Lower risk of cancer, heart disease, and other serious health problems.

The bottom line: Quitting will make you feel better and improve your health.

Make a list of all the reasons you want to quit dip.

Keep the list in a place where you will see it often, like your car or where you used to keep your dip. It might also help to keep the list on your phone. When you have a craving for dip, take a look at the list to remind yourself why you want to quit.

For many people, dealing with cravings is one of the hardest parts of quitting dip. That’s why it’s important to have a plan to beat that urge to dip.

Cravings are uncomfortable, but they are temporary. Try to wait out cravings until they pass. Here are a few ideas to help you handle cravings when they hit. Try one or more of these ideas until you find what works for you to beat the urge to dip. It’s also helpful to keep track of things that have worked for you. When you find something that helps, write it down. You can use that same approach if another craving comes along.

• Do something else.
  Stop what you're doing right away and do something different. Sometimes, just changing your routine helps you shake off a craving.
• Keep your mouth busy.
  Make sure you have sugar-free gum or snacks with you. Drinking more water can also help.
• Get active.
  Try taking a quick walk or go up and down the stairs a few times. Physical activity, even in short bursts, can help boost your energy and beat a craving.
• Take some deep breaths.
  Breathe in slowly through your nose and breathe out slowly through your mouth. Repeat this 10 times to help you relax.
• Think about your reasons for quitting.
  They’ll remind you why quitting is important to you and help you manage the craving until it passes.

You don’t have to do this alone. You can reach out for help:

• Call or text a friend.
  Lean on people you trust.
• Use our quitline.
  Call 1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848) to talk with a trained counselor for free.
• Chat with an online counselor.
  Get free real-time help from a trained counselor from the National Cancer Institute.

Triggers are the things that make you want to dip, like dealing with a stressful situation or seeing someone else dip. Different people may have different triggers, but one thing is true for everyone: knowing your triggers and making a plan to manage your cravings will help you quit dip for good. Here are some common triggers and tips for how to deal with them.

Do you dip when you’re really happy? What about when you’re feeling down?

Many dip users would answer “yes” to both of those questions. It’s very common to want to use dip to escape a bad mood or to make a good mood better.

For example, you may notice an urge to dip when you’re having negative emotions, like when you feel:

• Stressed or anxious
• Lonely
• Bored
• Sad
• Amped up after an argument

Positive emotions can also trigger the urge to dip, like when you’re feeling:

• Happy
• Excited
• Relieved

How to Deal

You can learn how to manage your feelings without turning to dip. Try these tips:

• Get active. Getting your body moving is a great way to handle emotions. When you exercise, your brain releases chemicals that make you feel good.
• Listen to music. Music can relax you by slowing your heart rate, lowering your blood pressure, and lowering the amount of stress hormones in your body.
• Take some deep breaths. Slow, deep breathing helps slow your body down, quiet your mind, and make cravings less intense.

Are there things you can’t imagine doing without dip?

Many people connect using dip with certain activities. Plan ahead with ways to stay dip-free when you’re:

• Watching TV or playing video games
• Driving
• Working out
• Talking on the phone
• Finishing a meal
• Drinking coffee
• Taking a study or work break
• Doing chores
• Working outside

How to Deal

Try to break the link between dip and the activity that triggers you by replacing it with something else. Here are some ways:

• Keep your mouth busy. If you’re used to dipping while you drive, keep sugar-free gum or toothpicks in your car.
• Change your routine. Try working out at a different time or brushing your teeth right after you eat a meal instead of before bed.
• Get active. Go for a walk or hop on your bike. Physical activity can help distract you from triggers.

Do you crave dip in social situations?

Social situations or events are another common trigger. For example, you may have cravings when you:

• Go to a party.
• See someone else dip or smoke.
• Spend time with friends who dip or smoke.
• Go hunting or fishing.

How to Deal

Many people who have quit dip find it helpful to make some changes to their social lives, at least for a while. Once you’ve decided to quit, you may want to:

• Avoid places where people dip.
• Ask friends not to dip or smoke around you.
• Spend time with friends and family who don’t dip.

You might not be able to stay away from all your triggers. But you can be ready with ways to handle them. Prepare ahead to deal with increased cravings you might have when you’re in places where other people are using dip. Over time, it will get easier to handle social situations that make you want to dip. Try to stick with it and continue to ask friends and family for their support.

Nicotine withdrawal is different for every person who uses dip. Changing the things you do can help you manage withdrawal symptoms.

The most common symptoms include:

• Having cravings for dip
• Feeling down or sad
• Having trouble sleeping
• Feeling irritable‚ on edge‚ or grouchy
• Having trouble thinking clearly and concentrating
• Feeling restless and jumpy
• Having a slower heart rate
• Feeling more hungry or gaining weight

Over time, these symptoms and cravings will fade if you stay away from dip.

Stress

Withdrawal can be uncomfortable and some people may feel high levels of symptoms. Some people feel increased sadness after they quit. If you are having extreme sadness, let people know.

Cravings

For many people who use dip, cravings last longer than other symptoms of withdrawal. Cravings can be set off by reminders of dipping. These reminders are often called triggers. People, places, and things can trigger a craving. This means it's important to have a plan for how you'll handle a craving when it hits.

Feeling stressed or sad after quitting dip? It’s normal. But stress or bad moods can make it harder to stay off dip. That’s why it’s important to learn how to manage your feelings without dip.

Many people use dip to help cope with stress. It’s also common to dip when you’re in a bad mood. One of the biggest challenges of being tobacco-free is learning new ways to deal with stress and other emotions.

Dip isn’t the answer.

It can be helpful to know that dip isn’t a good way to deal with stress and bad moods. Check out some reasons why:

• The relief you might feel from dip only lasts a short time. As soon as you start to feel stressed or down again, you’ll want to dip.
• Dip doesn’t solve your problem—it just hides it. The cause of your stress or bad mood isn’t going away because of dip.
• Using dip causes more stress than it relieves. Studies show that a person’s stress levels tend to go down after quitting tobacco.

The good news is there are lots of things that can help you deal with your emotions.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Move your body. If you’re feeling down, think about getting active. Any kind of physical activity can help. Try taking a walk, going to the gym, or joining a team sport. It might be hard to get motivated at first because feeling down can drain your energy. But if you stick with it, physical activity can help you feel better.

Spend time with people you care about. Getting support from the important people in your life can be key to helping you feel better. Focus on spending time with people who make you feel good about yourself and want to help you stay tobacco free. If you’re feeling down, you might want to spend more time alone. That’s normal, but just talking with someone you trust can help boost your mood.

Build healthy habits. Being physically run down can make it harder to deal with a bad mood. Take care of yourself—eat regularly, get enough sleep, and build in time for fun and healthy activities, like lifting weights or going fishing with a friend.

Prepare yourself for stressful situations. If something is coming up that’s making you nervous, doing a little homework in advance can make a big difference. Nervous about talking to your teacher or coach? Practice what you’re going to say in front of a mirror. Got a big game or performance coming up? Picture yourself nailing it.

When you’re really upset, try using the stop-breathe-think method. Take a timeout—stop, take a deep breath, and think about what's going on. A short break from a stressful or upsetting situation can help you think more clearly and make a healthy decision about what to do next.

Reward yourself with fun. If you’re feeling really stressed or sad, it can be tough to build fun activities into your life. Find ways to reward yourself — even small things like picking up your favorite magazine or listening to music can improve your mood. Choose an activity that you stopped doing when you started dipping, or try something new that you’ve always wanted to do.

Look out for signs of depression.

Feeling sad after you quit dip is normal. If you are feeling extreme sadness, you may need help from a professional. It is common for people who are feeling depressed to think about hurting themselves or dying. If you or someone you know is having these feelings, you can get help now. Call a 24-hour crisis center at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) for free, private help or dial 911.

Quitting dip is hard, but there are things you can do to help yourself stay dip-free for good.

Here are some tips that you can use every day to help you ditch the dip.

• Have a plan for getting through cravings. It’s tempting to give in to dip when a craving hits. Having a plan can help. Your plan could include staying busy, talking with someone, or thinking about your reasons for quitting. Remind yourself that cravings don’t last. Over time, these urges will fade if you stay away from dip.
• Focus on one day at a time. The first days and weeks without dipping can be really hard. Try to stay positive and take quitting one day at a time.
• Reward yourself for staying off dip. Quitting dip is a big deal—recognize that by rewarding yourself. Get tickets to see your favorite band or buy yourself something you really want with the money you’re saving by quitting dip.
• Continue to get support. If you’re having cravings, try reaching out to someone you trust, like a person who supported you when you first quit. If you find yourself craving dip, don’t let it make you feel badly about yourself. These cravings are normal.
• Keep your guard up. It’s important to know that your body has changed since you started using dip. Your brain learned to crave nicotine and tells your body to want it. No matter how long it’s been since you quit, if you understand these changes, you can take steps not to give in and dip again.

Feeling down? Mood changes are common after you quit dip. You might be irritable, restless, or feeling depressed.

If you have these feelings after quitting, there are things you can do to help lift your mood:

1. Stay active.
Any kind of physical activity can help—for example, taking a walk, going to the gym, or joining a team sport. If you need to, start small and build up over time. This can be hard to do because feeling down can drain your energy. But making the effort will pay off. It will help you feel better.

2. Come up with a daily routine.
Create a plan to stay busy. Find time to get out of the house whenever you can. Pick up an activity that you stopped doing when you started dipping, or take up something new.

3. Talk and do things with other people.
Some people who feel down about themselves are cut off from others. Having daily contact with other people can help your mood.

4. Build rewards into your life.
Some people who feel down don't have rewards or fun activities in their life. Find ways to reward yourself. Even small things, like reading a magazine or listening to music, add up and can help your mood.

5. Talk with friends and loved ones.
Getting support from the important people in your life can make a big difference as you quit. They can be key to helping you feel better. Focus on spending time with people who make you feel good about yourself and want you to succeed in staying tobacco-free.

Can you get cancer from smokeless tobacco?

Not only can smokeless tobacco cause mouth cancer, but it can also cause cancer of the throat and pancreas.

What are some of the chemicals in smokeless tobacco?

Dip contains nicotine, which can lead to addiction. Cadmium, chromium, arsenic, nickel, and benzo[a]pyrene are just a few of the 30 cancer-causing chemicals that can be found in dip.

Is dip better or safer for teens to use than cigarettes or other tobacco products?

While cigarettes are the deadliest form of tobacco, no tobacco product is safe. Dip contains up to 30 chemicals that are known to cause cancer. And vape aerosol can contain some of the same cancer-causing chemicals found in cigarette smoke, including formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.