Silica also grinds or flattens out the enamel surface of the teeth. But the spit tobacco does more harm to the teeth and gums. Oral cancer victims have a very low survival rate. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 3 percent of all cancers are oral cancer, and oral cancer patients have a lower survival rate than other kinds of cancers. Oral cancer often appears as a white or red patch on the tongue or gums - often in the spot where the spit tobacco is held.
Surgery is usually necessary to cut away the malignancy.
But generally, surgeons aren't able to simply remove the patch, but must follow the malignant cells much farther into the mouth. McGowan emphasizes that all people, especially spit tobacco users, should make sure that every visit to the dentist includes an oral cancer screening exam. This involves touching the tongue, feeling underneath it, looking at all the structures in the mouth, and around the chin and neck for lumps and bumps. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that as many as 20 percent of high school boys use spit tobacco. A special part of McGowan's efforts are to make sure young people don't pick up the habit.