BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- An estimated 3 percent of American adults use smokeless tobacco and the rate is much higher -- around 8 percent -- for high school students.

The Federal Trade Commission has noted that companies are spending record amounts of advertising dollars on smokeless tobacco, and surveys have suggested the efforts are paying off, with many people convinced snuff is safer than smoking cigarettes.

Smoking is indeed worse for your health, researchers concluded in a new review, but dip and snuff are far from safe.

Scientists analyzed the medical literature and found that smokeless tobacco users have a higher risk for many cancers.

They are twice as likely to get oral cancer, and 60 percent more likely to get pancreatic cancer or cancer of the esophagus.

Results for lung cancer were mixed, with around half of all studies supporting a link. The report also found that snuff and dip raise the odds for tooth decay and gum disease.