She is also a clinical instructor at University of Pacific School of Dentistry and an editor for Dentistry On-Line. It is incorrect to assume that smokin' a stogie is a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. Cigars contain more than 4,000 chemicals including 200 that are poisonous and 43 that are known to cause cancer. Granted, most moderate cigar smokers will not develop lung cancer because cigar smoke is usually not inhaled like cigarette smoke. However, even cigar smokers are six times more likely to develop lung cancer compared to nonsmokers.
Cigar use clearly contributes to oral cancer and heart disease.
Specifically, smoking a cigar or pipe increases the risk of developing lip, mouth and esophageal cancers. Cigar smokers are also more likely to develop prostate, kidney, liver, colorectal and laryngeal cancers. Any tobacco product contains a highly addictive drug called nicotine. Nicotine can be absorbed through oral tissues. Accordingly, even smokeless tobacco products are very dangerous.