Though cigarettes have received a well-deserved bad reputation in modern times, they are not the only form of tobacco that can cause serious health concerns for users.

Smokeless tobacco is still seen very commonly in schools throughout Texas. Those that start at the young age are very likely to continue chewing long into the future.

Did you know that the average Texas teenager, who chooses to chew, starts using the smokeless tobacco at just thirteen years old?

While just four percent of adults in this state make use of the harmful product, more than eight percent of school age children pack their lips with it regularly. The bad habit is not only unsightly, it also has negative impacts on a person’s health including the risk of receding gums.

In fact, the dental impacts of chewing are numerous and include decreased tooth enamel and the increased risk of tooth decay and tooth loss. Worse yet, the resulting production of leukoplakia, white patches of oral tissue, can develop into oral cancer.

Due to the number of possible, serious consequences, the Texas Department of Health is spreading a warning far and wide that switching from cigarettes to smokeless tobacco is not choosing a safer alternative.

The number of carcinogens found in many forms of chew is astounding and scary. This bad habit could mean a lifetime of battling oral, throat, larynx, or esophageal cancer. Furthermore, chew is just as addicting as cigarettes, so quitting can be equally as difficult.

For more information about chewing tobacco and the scary statistics associated with it, read the full article.