Chicago Family Dentist

Many people, particularly athletes, have picked up the habit of chewing tobacco under the impression that it is less dangerous than cigarettes. Unfortunately, this is not the case. While smokeless tobacco may have less of an effect on your lungs, the consequences it will have for other aspects of your health are definitely not worth it.

Among the risks of chewing tobacco are:

•    Severe tooth discoloration: After years of chewing tobacco, a person’s teeth can become yellow, brown, or even nearly black. A person’s breath can also be severely negatively affected.

•    Dental caries, a disease that can cause serious damage to teeth: The bacteria begin by eating away at outer layers of the teeth, the enamel and dentin. They then move in to attacking softer matter inside the tooth, resulting in large holes in the teeth, severe pain, and possible infection.

•    Oral cancer: Since this is the most serious result of smokeless tobacco, it will be covered in more detail in its own section below.

Signs and Risks of Oral Cancer

The earliest sign of this serious disease is white lumps or patches somewhere in the mouth. These are known as leucoplakia, and they are the first stage in developing oral cancer. Later symptoms include:

- Persistent pain

- Difficulty chewing

- Stiffness in the jaw

- Sensation of a lump or object stuck in the throat


Seventy-five percent of oral cancer cases are associated with tobacco. Oral cancer is treated with surgery and at least six weeks of daily radiation therapy, a painful procedure with long-lasting side effects. The five-year survival rate is about 50%. Clearly, it is better to avoid these pains and risks by not touching chewing tobacco, or quitting today if you have already started.
Contact a Chicago Family Dentist Today
No matter what the state of your teeth, we will provide the best dental care in Chicago. Contact the offices of Chicago family dentist Dr. Bagai at 773-767-1554.