How can smokeless tobacco cause oral cancer?

Carcinogens: It is the carcinogens in the tobacco that leach into the soft tissues of your mouth and cause the changes on a cellular level that result in cancer cells forming.

Tissue contact: Smokeless tobacco is a "pinch" held between the lip and gum. The constant contact on the tissues allows the harsh and carcinogenic chemicals in the tobacco to be absorbed into the tissues and then cause mutations in the cells that become cancerous.

Duplication error: Cancer is basically an error in the genetic duplication of a cell. This can be caused by radiation, virus, chemicals, and other factors. With smokeless tobacco you have a carcinogenic chemical combined with irritation( which means statistically more cells are duplicating so you have a greater chance of error).

Chemicals in Tobacco: Over time the nicotine in the tobacco leaches out of the smokeless tobacco and decreases blood flow to the cheek and gum mucous membranes. This mucosa becomes more permeable to the 200+ cancer producing chemicals in tobacco. If you drink alcohol, the alcohol increases carcinogensis by extracting the carcinogens and enhancing their penetration into the mucosa. Stop if you can, or get help to stop.

Yes: Tobacco is one of the risk factor for oral cancer in addition to alcohol and other things.

Yes, and Often Does: Over time the nicotine in the tobacco leaches out of the smokeless tobacco and decreases blood flow to the cheek and gum mucous membranes. This mucosa becomes more permeable to the 200+ cancer producing chemicals in tobacco. If you drink alcohol, the alcohol increases carcinogensis by extracting the carcinogens and enhancing their penetration into the mucosa. Stop if you can, or get help to stop.

Yes: There are more cancer producing chemicals in tobacco than letters in your question. And treatment often requires radical facial surgery. Oral cancer is particularly virulent. Tobacco, irrespective of the delivery system, is an ugly killer.

Yes: Smokeless tobacco (chew, snuff, etc.) cause cancer by exposing the lining of the mouth or nose to toxins in the tobacco that can lead to cancer. They also can cause chronic inflammation that promotes the growth of cancer cells.

Yes: By irritating the tisue, the tissue will change and become dysplatic (bad) and become theprecursor to cancer. Have your tissues checked by a dentist especially if they are whitish and have a washboard appearance.

Smokeless tobacco : Over time the nicotine in the tobacco leaches out of the smokeless tobacco and decreases blood flow to the cheek and gum mucous membranes. This mucosa becomes more permeable to the 200+ cancer producing chemicals in tobacco. If you drink alcohol, the alcohol increases carcinogensis by extracting the carcinogens and enhancing their penetration into the mucosa. Stop if you can, or get help to stop.