Smokeless tobacco contains about 3 to 4 times the amount of nicotine compared to cigarettes, and carry an increased risk of heart and cardiovascular disease and stroke. It also carries significant health risks to oral and dental health, as well as increased risk for related cancers.

People who use smokeless tobacco experience high rates of leukoplakia, white-gray patches in the mouth (usually in the spot where the tobacco product is placed) that can lead to mouth cancer. Smokeless tobacco is also associated with tooth decay, tooth loss and bone loss near the spot where the tobacco is placed. Cancers associated with smokeless tobacco include mouth, tongue, cheek, esophageal, and pancreatic.