Through with the Chew Week is observed in the third full week in February and this year, it takes place from February 16 to 22. The goal of the campaign’s Through with the Chew Week is to raise awareness about the dangers of smokeless tobacco among the general public. Tobacco, even if it is smokeless, is still tobacco. The use of this product is not a safe alternative to smoking because it contains at least 28 cancer-causing chemicals and has the potential to induce gum disease, tooth rot, and tooth loss. Educate people around you, especially the elderly, on the dangers of smokeless tobacco.
History of Through with the Chew
The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, Inc. launched the campaign in 1989 and has continued to this day. The goal was to coordinate a public awareness campaign on spit tobacco with dentists, healthcare practitioners, sports coaches, and teachers, to achieve this goal. To sever the link between baseball and smokeless tobacco, Oral Health America’s National Spit Tobacco Education Program (N.S.T.E.P.) teamed together with the tobacco industry in 1994 to launch the N.S.T.E.P.
Tobacco that does not produce smoke is divided into two categories: chewing tobacco and snuff. Chewing tobacco is offered in a variety of forms, including loose-leaf, plugging, twisting, and snuff. Snuff is finely ground tobacco that is offered in a variety of forms, including dry, moist, and tea-bag-like pouches known as sachets. The majority of smokers who use smokeless tobacco insert the product between their gum and cheek, while other varieties of snuff can be used by sniffing or inhaling it directly into the nostrils.
Chew contains at least 28 compounds that have been linked to cancers of the mouth, esophagus, and pancreas, according to research published in Cancer Research. The removal of tissue and bone, including the tongue and jaw, may be necessary for the treatment of oral malignancies. Smokeless tobacco can also lead to gum disease, heart disease, and precancerous mouth sores, among other health consequences. Chewable nicotine products, on average, give a larger amount of nicotine than cigarettes, making them more habit-forming.
Through with the Chew timeline
The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, Inc., spearheads the effort to raise awareness.
The N.S.T.E.P. of Oral Health America teams up with T.W.C. to sever the link between baseball and smokeless tobacco.
As a 10-piece blister card comprising compressed tobacco, mint, and eucalyptus, tobacco tablets are introduced to the market.
Swedish Match creates and sells a tobacco-chewing gum under the brand name "Fire" as an alternative tobacco product and tests it in Tokyo, Japan.
Through with the Chew FAQs
Are flavored smokeless tobacco products harmful?
Yes, they are especially because they are so popular among the youth.
What is the impact of nicotine on youths?
The development of brain circuits that control attention, learning, and addiction susceptibility can be disrupted in adolescents who use nicotine.
Are there any laws regarding smokeless tobacco and sports?
Smokeless tobacco was banned from all professional baseball stadiums in California in 2016 as a way to sever the cultural link between sports and tobacco.
How to Observe Through with the Chew
Encourage someone to quit
You can encourage someone to quit smokeless tobacco today. You can mobilize your friends or the youths in your area to go around encouraging people in the neighborhood to quit and why it is important for them to quit.
Educate people
Some people may not be aware of the effects of smokeless tobacco, so today is a great day to increase awareness of the effects. The first step towards change is an awareness of an issue, so letting people know about it is a good first step.
Perform oral health checkups frequently
If you are a regular user of smokeless tobacco products, it is important to schedule regular oral health checkups to catch any diseases quickly. Or, if you know any regular users around you, you can encourage them to schedule regular appointments with their doctor or dentist.
5 Interesting Facts About Smokeless Tobacco
Substitute
Smokeless tobacco poses a considerable health hazard and is not a safe alternative to smoking.
Oral cancer
Tobacco smokers are at a higher risk of developing oral cancer than non-users, and these tumors can develop within five years of frequent usage.
Different cancers
Constant exposure to tobacco fluids from smokeless tobacco can lead to cancer of the esophagus, pharynx, larynx, stomach, and pancreas.
Oral problems
Mouth sores, gingivitis, decay, foul breath, and even permanent tooth discoloration are all possible side effects.
Higher nicotine level
Chew items can contain more nicotine and be more addictive than cigarettes.
Why Through with the Chew is Important
It’s a preventative measure
Through with the Chew Week is a great way to get users to quit and can help prevent oral cancers and other diseases associated with smokeless tobacco. It serves as a good way to encourage people to live without the use of harmful substances.
It encourages quitting
The more people quit smokeless tobacco, the better. Education makes people aware of the risks and effects associated with chewing tobacco and snuff, as it is not a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes.
It provides information
Even if you do not use smokeless tobacco products, several resources are shared on this day so that it will eventually get to the target. It not only gives information about the dangers but resources on quitting are also shared on various platforms.
Through with the Chew dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | February 20 | Sunday |
| 2023 | February 19 | Sunday |
| 2024 | February 18 | Sunday |
| 2025 | February 16 | Sunday |
| 2026 | February 15 | Sunday |
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