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Tobacco Education: Smokeless Tobacco


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There are two types of smokeless tobacco: snuff and chewing tobacco. Snuff, a finely ground or shredded tobacco is packaged as dry, moist, or in sachets (tea-bag like pouches). Typically, the user places a pinch or "dip" between the cheek and gum. Chewing tobacco is available in loose leaf, plug (plug-firm and plug-moist) or twist forms, with the user putting a wad of tobacco inside the cheek. Smokeless tobacco is sometimes called "spit" or "spitting" tobacco because people spit out the tobacco juices and saliva that build up in the mouth.

Types of Smokeless Tobacco

  • Chewing Tobacco: This consists of loose tobacco leaves that are sweetened and packaged in pouches. You put a wad of the tobacco between your cheek and gum and hold it there. It's also called chew. Usually, you spit out the tobacco juices, but if you're more addicted, you tend to swallow some of the juices.

  • Plug: This is chewing tobacco that has been pressed into a brick shape, often with the help of syrup, such as molasses, which also sweetens the tobacco. You cut off or bite off a piece of the plug and hold it between your cheek and gum. You then spit out the tobacco juices.


  • Snuff: This is finely ground or shredded tobacco leaves. It's available in dry or moist forms and is packaged in tins or tea-bag like pouches. A pinch of snuff is placed between the lower lip and gum or cheek and gum. Dry forms of snuff can be sniffed into the nose. Using snuff is also called dipping. You normally spit out the tobacco juices.

  • Snus: Snus (pronounce snooze) is a newer smokeless tobacco product that originated in Sweden. It comes in a pouch that you stick between your upper lip and gum. You leave it there for about a half-hour without having to spit, then discard it.

  • Dissolvable tobacco products: These are pieces of compressed powdered tobacco, similar to small hard candies. They dissolve in your mouth, requiring no spitting of tobacco juices. They're sometimes called tobacco lozenges, but they're not the same as the nicotine lozenges used to help you quit smoking.