Tobacco has long found its mention in human history. From being the currency equivalent to the reason for slavery, its evolution often intrigues us. It is consumed in numerous ways, smoking and chewing being prominent.
Smokeless tobacco is one of the world’s oldest tobacco types. It provides nicotine without burning when ingested orally or nasally through chewing, sucking, or sniffing. Spit tobacco, chewing tobacco, chew, and dip are all names for smokeless tobacco.
Cigarette prices have been rising over the years. So instead of smoking cigarettes, users, seeking a more cost-effective way to consume tobacco, put tobacco leaves in their mouths and chew on them. Smokeless tobacco also contains nicotine. There are many reputable brands like the Black Buffalo involved in smokeless tobacco manufacturing.
A better diet and digestion and healthy teeth and gums are some of the short-term benefits. Long-term advantages include a lower risk of severe diseases like heart failure or mouth cancer. You can use smokeless tobacco to:
- To reduce tooth and gum pain
- To relieve tension and boredom
- To enjoy the peculiar taste of tobacco
By now, you must be wondering how to consume it. Well, you can enjoy smokeless tobacco in these 3 popular ways:
1. Chewing
Tobacco is available in three different forms: dried and shredded leaves, plugs, rolls, and twists. Between the cheek and the gum, take a bit of tobacco. Chew it till the tobacco releases juice and then spit out juices. Tobacco chewing is not the same as cigarette chewing. Chewing cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes) are created to achieve nicotine in liquid instead of burning tobacco.
2. Snus & snuff
Ground tobacco is used for snussing and snuffing. These, in the wet form, are available in cans or tea bags like sachets. Insert a drop of sticky snuff or mount the sachet between your cheek and the gum. Dry powdered snuff comes in a can. A drop of it may be snorted up the nose or chewed. Some types of snuff are licked or breathed through the nose, while others are chewed.
3. Gutka
Gutka is a commercially available smokeless tobacco. Manufacturers incorporate sweet or savory flavors to make them more attractive to women and young people in some areas. It is commonly packaged in small aluminum foil tins and includes areca nut, tobacco, and additives like flavoring agents. It is only masticated.
Gutka, as a consumer product, is only 30 years old. Today, thousands of producers range from low to very high, with such total annual revenue in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Of late, many countries have started banning its sale owing to its adverse effects on health.
Conclusion
Although all smokeless tobacco products are enjoyable, they do not require burning, do not carry the same health risks as smoking (such as respiratory disease and lung cancer), and are generally considered less harmful than smoking.
Specific risk profiles of smokeless tobacco products, on the other hand, vary greatly, with some products having significantly lower toxin levels than others. However, people must remember that tobacco consumption in any form is always detrimental to health. Always consider your health status before opting for smokeless tobacco.
