Gum Loss from Dipping

[monster]

So I've been half-heartedly trying to quit dipping for about a year now, but never really had any success. I recently checked my gums (I always dip on the right side) and was horrifed to learn that the gum over my canine tooth has receeded darn near to the bottom of my tooth. The saddest thing is, I still want to dip. Hopefully, this will be enough to convince me to quit, but I'm wondering what happens with my gum now. Can it be saved? Will it regenerate? How bad is the damage?

If anyone else has had this happen, I'd love to hear your experience. Thanks!

[sotexhookset]

Yes. I started dipping at 10 or 11 years old (Cope since 13) and dropped the can 2 years ago (I just smoke more now so no kudos needed). My gums are exceeded pretty bad as well but they don't hurt at all as they occassionally did before. They have not recovered any as of yet (if they ever will???) but did stop receding. Good luck to ya if you make your mind up to do it. Throat/mouth cancer is one ugly way to die. Have seen it first hand and it's one bad s.o.b.

[ilike2fish]

mine are pretty bad as well. although, i had asked my dentist about them when she was giving me a clean-up and she said as long as i move it around it shouldn't be a problem. I think you just need to move it around more. as far as regrowing, my dentist said gums don't regrow but if you quit they will stop receding.

[fshntxok]

hey guys...if I can give you any encouragement I would like to do so.
I am now 51 started dipping/chewing when I was about 10 or 11....
I quit almost 2 years ago...cold turkey...just put it down and walk away....you gotta wanna quit...I got tired of paying 5 to 6 dollars a can and I was a 2 can a day man.
Copenhagen Long Cut by the truck load...saved enough money to buy a used Mako and go fishing....It can be done hang in there.

[krfish]

I dipped for seven years before quitting, and I dipped a can every day and a half or so. This past Monday was a year since i had my last dip of snuff. I remember thinking to myself that I was going to give it a sincere effort to quit, but it probably wouldnt work. It was a pain for about the first 3 weeks but after that my cravings got smaller and smaller. It still bothers me a little bit, but the satisfaction of knowing that you dont have to have a dip of snuff is a much greater reward. Good luck!

[jeff.w]

I quit smoking 3 weeks ago because of a routine visit to my dentist. He referred me to a specialist because I had some patches in my mouth that concerned him. Turns out it is just scar tissue, and the possibility of cancer is very small, but it was enough to make me put down my cigarettes for good. He also said the damage to my gum and back of my throat is permanent. It doesn't 'regenerate'. I smoked for 26 years, a pack a day. It's sad it took something like that to 'scare' me into quitting, but it is what it is. Like I said, smoke free now, and getting over the cravings is easier each day. You can quit, you just have to WANT to.