Article: Different forms are used in different ways. Chewing tobacco consists of loose, sweetened tobacco leaves that are sweetened. You put a wad of the tobacco between your cheek and gum and hold it there, sometimes for hours at a time. It's also called chew and chaw. Snuff is finely ground or shredded tobacco leaves. It's available in dry or moist forms and is packaged in tins or tea bag-like pouches. A pinch of snuff is placed between the lower lip and gum or cheek and gum. Dry forms of snuff can be sniffed into the nose. Using snuff is also called dipping. Plug is chewing tobacco that has been pressed into a brick shape, often with the help of syrup, such as molasses, which also sweetens the tobacco. You cut or bite off a piece of the plug and hold it between your cheek and gum. You spit out the tobacco juices. Twist is flavored chewing tobacco that has been braided and twisted into rope-like strands. You hold it between your cheek and gum and spit out the tobacco juices. Snus (the "u" is pronounced like the "e" in "news") smokeless, spit-less tobacco product. It comes in either a pouch or as a moist loose form that you stick between your upper lip and gum. You leave it in your mouth for about a half-hour or more without having to spit, then discard it. Dissolvable tobacco are pieces of compressed powdered tobacco, similar to small hard candies. They dissolve in your mouth, requiring no spitting. They're sometimes called tobacco lozenges, but they're not the same as the nicotine lozenges used to help you quit smoking. There are many brands of chewing tobacco on the market today, which range in price and flavor. Some of the most popular are: Copenhagen is a premium tobacco made by U.S. Smokeless and the most expensive moist tobacco on the market. It comes in flavors like Natural, Straight, Bourbon, Whisky, and Smooth. For a beginner, it may be best to start out with the Long Cut version of Copenhagen as it packs more easily and will stay together in your mouth as you get accustomed to chewing. Skoal is known for its high quality and variety of flavors, including Apple, Peach, and Wintergreen. Fruit flavors are good for a beginner chewer as they are milder than the mint varieties. Timberwolf is value-priced, high quality tobacco. It comes in flavors like Apple, Peach, Mint, and Cool Wintergreen. Grizzly is considered "floor tobacco" for it's very cheap price. It comes in Mint and Wintergreen and is not recommended for beginners because of its high nicotine content. You might be surprised at what dangerous chemicals are found in smokeless tobacco products. Smokeless tobacco contains a number of cancer-causing chemicals such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polonium210 (a radioactive element found in tobacco fertilizer) and nitrosamines. Chewing tobacco contains sugar, which leads to tooth decay and gum disease. It also contains salt (sodium), which raises blood pressure. Of course, smokeless tobacco products also contain the addictive substance, nicotine. Just like cigarettes, chewing tobacco is regulated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), so you will be required to prove you are 21 years or older before you can purchase chewing tobacco.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Note the different kinds of smokeless tobacco. Be aware of the brands of chewing tobacco available. Learn about the chemicals in chewing tobacco. Have your state-issued identification ready when purchasing chewing tobacco.