gums :-(

[rob i]

thanks! I know what I won't be doing after the next one... for at least a few days

[EricHill78]

Rob i, good luck with everything. I wonder though with the synthetic skin option if you'd still be able to absorb nicotine or it would be decreased with snus.

[rob i]

i would imagine that it work just the same. the synthetic skin would need to be able to accomodate blood flow just like regular skin. If not, then it would be no more effective than if you put a piece of chewing gum across your gum line and called it a gum graft.

[Monkey]

I did get a graft. They only do one tooth at a time, so I have 2 left to do. I was very aware, for YEARS before i started using snus, that this was going to eventually have to happen. The way the doc explained, everyone's gums recede as they get older. General anatomy plays a tremendous part, and things like brushing too hard, clenching teeth, tobacco use, are smaller mitigating factors. Though she is clearly not a fan of tobacco use, she was pretty darn positive that snus didn't cause this. I would have needed this graft had I never touched the stuff. It's been over a year since my first graft and at the last dentist appt, my dentist commented on how nicely the graft came out and how it still looks great. And yes, I do snus in the area of the graft and it hasn't seemed to change or recede in the course of an entire year. knock wood.

also, there was / is no gingivitis and my gums are in healthy shape according to my dentist.

and for those who need eventual gum grafts, please take my word on this and go for the synthetic skin option vs the grafting from the palate option. I still have a dent in the roof of my mouth from where they took the graft. It also got very infected (dry socket) about a week after I had the graft done. My dentist wanted to blame snus for the infection (i snused on the opposite side of the graft after the surgery), but in the end it was discovered it wasn't the snus that caused the infection, but was rather caused by self medicating by smoking a popular but controversial non tobacco herbal blend....... Hey they told me no cigarettes. No one every said anything about..... (really hoping you guys are catching my subtle hints here).... And the reason that smoking anything can cause dry socket is due to sucking and pulling smoke into your mouth, which in turn dislodges clots in the wound, causing bacteria to rush in. When that happens, just hope you have some serious pain killers and antibiotics as the pain is indescribable.

the reason she blamed snus for the infection at first is because nicotine is a vaso constrictor and can constrict the blood vessels in your mouth, decreasing blood flow, which is not the best thing when you are trying to heal a mouth wound. This is true, and I can see that the healing period may be a bit longer if you snus after oral surgery, but should NOT CAUSE an infection. The infection was caused by smoking during healing. Another way to get the same infection that I did, without smoking is to drink things with straw. Sucking on anything can cause dry socket after oral surgery. On the other hand, sucking on snus portions during healing can cause this as well. I took great pains not to do this. It is my own dumb ass fault that I smoked. And I mean, within hours of the surgery. I thought it would help with the discomfort. As smart as I think i am, I can be a real moron at times.

Rob

Rob

When I got my wisdom teeth out (all four at once) my buddy filled up the waterpipe with smoke for me....no dry socket.

Glad I could contribute to this in a meaningful way...

[rob i]

ingenious idea Monkey. Have someone else put forth the sucking effort while you reap the rewards minus the consequences. You are a forward thinker!

[nicodude]

Or you could just bake up some brownies or even just herbal butter, it lasts a lot longer than smoking it.

[GoVegan]

Have had receding gums for a while, nothing needing action though. Been using snus since last November. Went to the dentist yesterday and I now need to see a periodontist for some reconstruction. Dentist said it is just normal progression, I'm 55. I happen to believe that snus hastened it though, I have recession everywhere but the gums by the molars are most needy, that is where I have been using the snus.
Bummed because I am 99% off cigarettes because of snus. Now, I am trying to decide to still use it or go back to smoking, I know I can't quit nicotine, tried too many times.
Crap!

Your kidding right? The rate of oral cancer, which is bad for your gums as well, from smoking is far greater from that of using snus. My gums have been receding as well but I am not turning back to cigarettes at this point. I would just follow the advice of people offered here like switching sides more or perhaps cutting back. I am not sure if this would help but you might also try a fine grind los. There is a big difference between brands. I personally find Granit los to be quite soft but I have also heard good things about Prima Fint.

[TommyGunBC]

I'm going to be getting gum grafts done in the near future do to recession from grinding my teeth while asleep , I have never heard of synthetic skin for grafts , my options were either skin from the roof of my mouth or cadaver skin are you confusing cadaver(aka dead people) with synthetic ??

[rob i]

maybe. I could swear the periodontist said synthetic. but maybe she was talking about cadaver. I don't really know.

[GoVegan]

Cadaver gums sound kind of gross. I am wondering if dentures are an alternative for this.

[jagmanss]

maybe. I could swear the periodontist said synthetic. but maybe she was talking about cadaver. I don't really know.

Cadaver gums sound kind of gross. I am wondering if dentures are an alternative for this.

I don't know man... I wouldn't want some dead hookers gums in my mouth.... But what you don't know won't matter I suppose.... Just the thought of what was in her mouth would though.... LOL

[hippiebrian]

This was one of my worries, but everything I read up on it told me that it really isn't a problem, and that smoking is what really causes gum/mouth disease. I have problems also, and my dentist told me it was genetics (at 49 in my family, I'm an old man to still have my teeth) combined with my smoking.

If you feel the need to stop snus, go for it, but I really think it was the years of smoking that did it to ya!

[hippiebrian]

Cadaver gums sound kind of gross. I am wondering if dentures are an alternative for this.

MMMMM, cadaver gum...better than spearmint!

[Ansel]

Okay so i've lost my frenulum pretty much - i'm okay with that but will my gums go the same way? It's a worry. Surely they are made of the same stuff?!

Don't want to go back to smoking. Accept some damage to my gums. But i'm something like 4 months in - what would another 4 months do? lol

Don't really want to go on to the gum or lozenges as the nic hit isn't there unless i double up and they can get pricey.

:-S *anxious*

[Ansel]

Any long time snussers able to share any wisdom? How far can it go?! Thanks!