Statement by ADA President D. Gregory Chadwick, D.D.S., on Spit Tobacco's Proposed Health Claims

"The U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company is seeking permission from the government to make advertising claims that using their
spit tobacco products are less of a health risk than smoking. Let's set aside for a moment the legitimate scientific and legal questions raised by this, and apply a little common sense.

"We've seen the consequences when people-especially children-use these products. We know that spit tobacco is a carcinogen and a risk factor for oral cancer. We know that oral cancer is the fourth most common form of cancer; that it strikes some 30,000 Americans-killing 8,000 people in this country alone-every year. Spit tobacco is also a risk factor for oral and
dental disease.

"I suppose you could argue that shooting yourself in the leg poses less of a health risk than shooting yourself in the head. But do we really need to have that discussion? Tobacco use kills people, period. The ADA and its 141,000 member dentists oppose USSTC's proposal to make health claims about their spit tobacco products. It's simply a bad idea"

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