I quit chewing 2 years ago. Noticed my gum line start to recede. Bet myself I could go a month without chewing to see if it would heal up. After a couple weeks of grouting my teeth the cravings subsided mostly. After a month I threw a dip in and it tasted nasty. Haven’t chewed since. (I chewed for 5 or so years prior).
[quote]Derek542 wrote:
[quote]theuofh wrote:
[quote]Derek542 wrote:
[quote]Jewbacca wrote:
[quote]jkondash89 wrote:
I recently quit dipping [/quote]
Why?
Dipping has no effect on cancer rates:
Dipping actually marginally helps cardiovascular health:
Long story short, while tobaccos SMOKE will kill you, sucking on tobacco is harmless, if nasty.
The FDA, of course, is 12 years behind the curve on this.
[/quote]
SCIENCE[/quote]
…or statistical arbitrage?
[/quote]
Work with me man[/quote]
Neither “study” has results which support “conclusions.”
The second one is a “one-off” survey of the effect of snuff on chosen cardiac risk factors. There is no longitudinal follow-up so there can be no conclusion regarding safety or effect on cardiovascular health over time.
The first study is a meta-analysis, a method which introduces a strong bias of the effect of smoking. In many papers, it is the 2 or 3 part interaction of smoking, smokeless tobacco (ST) and alcohol, which is carcinogenic. So artificially deducting the effect of smoking is methodologically suspect; it may severely underestimate the risk posed by ST.
There are 576 articles that I can retrieve regarding cancer risk and ST. Many cannot show a cancer risk to ST are funded by transnational tobacco companies, and they are too small or too brief to pick up long-term risks.
It isn’t fair, I know, to cherry pick articles. I will do so nevertheless to illustrate the method to assess cancer risk when one cannot conduct expensive long-term randomized trials:
[i]
Int J Cancer. 2013 Apr 15;132(8):1911-7. doi: 10.1002/ijc.27839. Epub 2012 Oct 11.
Smokeless tobacco and risk of head and neck cancer: evidence from a case-control study in New England.
Zhou J, Michaud DS, Langevin SM, McClean MD, Eliot M, Kelsey KT.
Abstract
Current studies suggesting that smokeless tobacco use increases the risk of head and neck cancer are hampered by small numbers. Consequently, there remains uncertainty in the magnitude and significance of this risk. We examined the relationship between smokeless tobacco use and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in a population-based case-control study with 1,046 cases and 1,239 frequency-matched controls. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), adjusting for age, gender, race, education level, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption. A nonsignificant elevated association between having ever used smokeless tobacco and HNSCC risk (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 0.67-2.16) was observed. Individuals who reported 10 or more years of smokeless tobacco use had a significantly elevated risk of HNSCC (OR = 4.06, 95% CI: 1.31-12.64), compared to never users. In an analysis restricted to never cigarette smokers, a statistically significant association was observed between ever use of smokeless tobacco and the risk of HNSCC (OR = 4.21, 95% CI: 1.01-17.57). These findings suggest that long-term use of smokeless tobacco increases the risk of HNSCC.
[/i]
There are minor biases built into the method, but as a first pass, I think this is a better picture of risk assessment.
(And for those who ask the question, yes, I am a published author in head and neck cancer research.)
[quote]DrSkeptix wrote:
[quote]Derek542 wrote:
[quote]theuofh wrote:
[quote]Derek542 wrote:
[quote]Jewbacca wrote:
[quote]jkondash89 wrote:
I recently quit dipping [/quote]
Why?
Dipping has no effect on cancer rates:
Dipping actually marginally helps cardiovascular health:
Long story short, while tobaccos SMOKE will kill you, sucking on tobacco is harmless, if nasty.
The FDA, of course, is 12 years behind the curve on this.
[/quote]
SCIENCE[/quote]
…or statistical arbitrage?
[/quote]
Work with me man[/quote]
Neither “study” has results which support “conclusions.”
The second one is a “one-off” survey of the effect of snuff on chosen cardiac risk factors. There is no longitudinal follow-up so there can be no conclusion regarding safety or effect on cardiovascular health over time.
The first study is a meta-analysis, a method which introduces a strong bias of the effect of smoking. In many papers, it is the 2 or 3 part interaction of smoking, smokeless tobacco (ST) and alcohol, which is carcinogenic. So artificially deducting the effect of smoking is methodologically suspect; it may severely underestimate the risk posed by ST.
There are 576 articles that I can retrieve regarding cancer risk and ST. Many cannot show a cancer risk to ST are funded by transnational tobacco companies, and they are too small or too brief to pick up long-term risks.
It isn’t fair, I know, to cherry pick articles. I will do so nevertheless to illustrate the method to assess cancer risk when one cannot conduct expensive long-term randomized trials:
[i]
Int J Cancer. 2013 Apr 15;132(8):1911-7. doi: 10.1002/ijc.27839. Epub 2012 Oct 11.
Smokeless tobacco and risk of head and neck cancer: evidence from a case-control study in New England.
Zhou J, Michaud DS, Langevin SM, McClean MD, Eliot M, Kelsey KT.
Abstract
Current studies suggesting that smokeless tobacco use increases the risk of head and neck cancer are hampered by small numbers. Consequently, there remains uncertainty in the magnitude and significance of this risk. We examined the relationship between smokeless tobacco use and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in a population-based case-control study with 1,046 cases and 1,239 frequency-matched controls. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), adjusting for age, gender, race, education level, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption. A nonsignificant elevated association between having ever used smokeless tobacco and HNSCC risk (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 0.67-2.16) was observed. Individuals who reported 10 or more years of smokeless tobacco use had a significantly elevated risk of HNSCC (OR = 4.06, 95% CI: 1.31-12.64), compared to never users. In an analysis restricted to never cigarette smokers, a statistically significant association was observed between ever use of smokeless tobacco and the risk of HNSCC (OR = 4.21, 95% CI: 1.01-17.57). These findings suggest that long-term use of smokeless tobacco increases the risk of HNSCC.
[/i]
There are minor biases built into the method, but as a first pass, I think this is a better picture of risk assessment.
(And for those who ask the question, yes, I am a published author in head and neck cancer research.)[/quote]
game over
Im doing good so far 3rd day no nicotine working on the 4th right now. I got a can of cope WG in the freezer and i open the freezer up every now and then just to flip it off and swear at it lmao. Good luck to whoever else is quitting also. Join in this race with me.
I tried swedish snus before too i actually liked it but im just trying to kick nicotine altogether more so for money reasons than anything. Hell one week of dip costs a months gym membership. 2 cans per day at $3/can $42/week. Gym membership 30/month lol
[quote]DrSkeptix wrote:
(And for those who ask the question, yes, I am a published author in head and neck cancer research.)[/quote]
I know it raises blood pressure the same as cigarettes, but do you know if it carries the same risk of arterial constriction?
I remember doing sniff snuff in high school. Raspberry flavor was my favorite. Kids still do that these days?
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]DrSkeptix wrote:
(And for those who ask the question, yes, I am a published author in head and neck cancer research.)[/quote]
I know it raises blood pressure the same as cigarettes, but do you know if it carries the same risk of arterial constriction?[/quote]
Dont worry he is a skeptic.
My medical opinion is if you are going through more than one can a day then yes you greatly increasing your risk for mouth, throat and tongue cancer.
Like everything else in life moderation is the key.
[quote]Derek542 wrote:
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]DrSkeptix wrote:
(And for those who ask the question, yes, I am a published author in head and neck cancer research.)[/quote]
I know it raises blood pressure the same as cigarettes, but do you know if it carries the same risk of arterial constriction?[/quote]
Dont worry he is a skeptic.
My medical opinion is if you are going through more than one can a day then yes you greatly increasing your risk for mouth, throat and tongue cancer.
Like everything else in life moderation is the key. [/quote]
I don’t know, if I only play russian roulette occasionally it still seems counterproductive.
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]Derek542 wrote:
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]DrSkeptix wrote:
(And for those who ask the question, yes, I am a published author in head and neck cancer research.)[/quote]
I know it raises blood pressure the same as cigarettes, but do you know if it carries the same risk of arterial constriction?[/quote]
Dont worry he is a skeptic.
My medical opinion is if you are going through more than one can a day then yes you greatly increasing your risk for mouth, throat and tongue cancer.
Like everything else in life moderation is the key. [/quote]
I don’t know, if I only play russian roulette occasionally it still seems counterproductive.
[/quote]
Really Testy (I almost used your real name 
)
Are you in a contrary mode this week or what?
[quote]Derek542 wrote:
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]Derek 542 wrote:
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]DrSkeptix wrote:
(And for those who ask the question, yes, I am a published author in head and neck cancer research.)[/quote]
I know it raises blood pressure the same as cigarettes, but do you know if it carries the same risk of arterial constriction?[/quote]
Dont worry he is a skeptic.
My medical opinion is if you are going through more than one can a day then yes you greatly increasing your risk for mouth, throat and tongue cancer.
Like everything else in life moderation is the key. [/quote]
I don’t know, if I only play russian roulette occasionally it still seems counterproductive.
[/quote]
Really Testy (I almost used your real name )
Are you in a contrary mode this week or what?[/quote]
I didn’t really mean for it to come off that way, but it is in my screenname afterall.
That phrase is one of my pet peeves though. My mom eats small portions of mostly crap food then says “everything in Moderation”. Then wonders why she can’t lose weight.
I promise not to use your real name Derek542 if you don’t use mine.
Signed Ray
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]Derek542 wrote:
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]Derek 542 wrote:
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]DrSkeptix wrote:
(And for those who ask the question, yes, I am a published author in head and neck cancer research.)[/quote]
I know it raises blood pressure the same as cigarettes, but do you know if it carries the same risk of arterial constriction?[/quote]
Dont worry he is a skeptic.
My medical opinion is if you are going through more than one can a day then yes you greatly increasing your risk for mouth, throat and tongue cancer.
Like everything else in life moderation is the key. [/quote]
I don’t know, if I only play russian roulette occasionally it still seems counterproductive.
[/quote]
Really Testy (I almost used your real name )
Are you in a contrary mode this week or what?[/quote]
I didn’t really mean for it to come off that way, but it is in my screenname afterall.
That phrase is one of my pet peeves though. My mom eats small portions of mostly crap food then says “everything in Moderation”. Then wonders why she can’t lose weight.
I promise not to use your real name Derek542 if you don’t use mine.
Signed Ray
[/quote]
Lol
My moderation comment Ray was more in regard to the “sins” of life.
Ingesting things that have no nutritional value.
The body does not need alcohol or nicotine, but in moderation will not have the disastrous effects.
[quote]Derek542 wrote:
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]Derek542 wrote:
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]Derek 542 wrote:
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]DrSkeptix wrote:
(And for those who ask the question, yes, I am a published author in head and neck cancer research.)[/quote]
I know it raises blood pressure the same as cigarettes, but do you know if it carries the same risk of arterial constriction?[/quote]
Dont worry he is a skeptic.
My medical opinion is if you are going through more than one can a day then yes you greatly increasing your risk for mouth, throat and tongue cancer.
Like everything else in life moderation is the key. [/quote]
I don’t know, if I only play russian roulette occasionally it still seems counterproductive.
[/quote]
Really Testy (I almost used your real name )
Are you in a contrary mode this week or what?[/quote]
I didn’t really mean for it to come off that way, but it is in my screenname afterall.
That phrase is one of my pet peeves though. My mom eats small portions of mostly crap food then says “everything in Moderation”. Then wonders why she can’t lose weight.
I promise not to use your real name Derek542 if you don’t use mine.
Signed Ray
[/quote]
Lol
My moderation comment Ray was more in regard to the “sins” of life.
Ingesting things that have no nutritional value.
The body does not need alcohol or nicotine, but in moderation will not have the disastrous effects. [/quote]
Agreed.
What I can’t figure out is the Japanese Smoking and Lung Cancer Paradox. How does Japan have such a high rate of smokers but a low rate of lung cancer and a long life expectancy? Japanese traditionally have good diets. I am wondering has there been any studies comparing rates of tobacco related cancers in athletic health conscious smokers or chewers as opposed to non-health conscious smokers.
If Japanese are healthier people overall maybe smoking is less harmful to them than North Americans who smoke. Maybe North Americans who smoke are more inclined to be less healthy in all aspects of their lives. I don’t know.
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]Derek542 wrote:
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]Derek542 wrote:
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]Derek 542 wrote:
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]DrSkeptix wrote:
(And for those who ask the question, yes, I am a published author in head and neck cancer research.)[/quote]
I know it raises blood pressure the same as cigarettes, but do you know if it carries the same risk of arterial constriction?[/quote]
Dont worry he is a skeptic.
My medical opinion is if you are going through more than one can a day then yes you greatly increasing your risk for mouth, throat and tongue cancer.
Like everything else in life moderation is the key. [/quote]
I don’t know, if I only play russian roulette occasionally it still seems counterproductive.
[/quote]
Really Testy (I almost used your real name )
Are you in a contrary mode this week or what?[/quote]
I didn’t really mean for it to come off that way, but it is in my screenname afterall.
That phrase is one of my pet peeves though. My mom eats small portions of mostly crap food then says “everything in Moderation”. Then wonders why she can’t lose weight.
I promise not to use your real name Derek542 if you don’t use mine.
Signed Ray
[/quote]
Lol
My moderation comment Ray was more in regard to the “sins” of life.
Ingesting things that have no nutritional value.
The body does not need alcohol or nicotine, but in moderation will not have the disastrous effects. [/quote]
Agreed.
[/quote]
Your a good Egg Ray.
No matter what Ed says.
[quote]Derek542 wrote:
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]Derek542 wrote:
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]Derek 542 wrote:
[quote]Testy1 wrote:
[quote]DrSkeptix wrote:
(And for those who ask the question, yes, I am a published author in head and neck cancer research.)[/quote]
I know it raises blood pressure the same as cigarettes, but do you know if it carries the same risk of arterial constriction?[/quote]
Dont worry he is a skeptic.
My medical opinion is if you are going through more than one can a day then yes you greatly increasing your risk for mouth, throat and tongue cancer.
Like everything else in life moderation is the key. [/quote]
I don’t know, if I only play russian roulette occasionally it still seems counterproductive.
[/quote]
Really Testy (I almost used your real name )
Are you in a contrary mode this week or what?[/quote]
I didn’t really mean for it to come off that way, but it is in my screenname afterall.
That phrase is one of my pet peeves though. My mom eats small portions of mostly crap food then says “everything in Moderation”. Then wonders why she can’t lose weight.
I promise not to use your real name Derek542 if you don’t use mine.
Signed Ray
[/quote]
Lol
My moderation comment Ray was more in regard to the “sins” of life.
Ingesting things that have no nutritional value.
The body does not need alcohol or nicotine, but in moderation will not have the disastrous effects. [/quote]
Sarcasm–> Well the body needed alcohol if you were living during the cholera outbreak in 1832.
[quote]Velvet Elvis wrote:
[quote]Jewbacca wrote:
[quote]jkondash89 wrote:
I recently quit dipping [/quote]
Why?
Dipping has no effect on cancer rates:
Dipping actually marginally helps cardiovascular health:
Long story short, while tobaccos SMOKE will kill you, sucking on tobacco is harmless, if nasty.
The FDA, of course, is 12 years behind the curve on this.
[/quote]
Thanks for linking those … Now I can continue my spiral of self destruction armed with the knowledge that it’s just a harmless, albeit nasty, habit …
Are those studies MRS Jewbacca approved?
[/quote]
Mildly approved, but tobacco use is still mildly disapproved.
The science regarding smokeless tobacco is far from settled. It does appear that the link to cancer of ST alone is pretty weak; certainly nothing like smoking.
Which side you believe depends on what camp you come from.
If you are like Dr. Skeptic, which comes from the camp that believes tobacco has been proven resoundingly bad and any tobacco product has to prove itself safe, then these studies don’t do that. ST is not proven safe.
If you come from my husband’s camp that does not condemn tobacco and believes one must prove ST causes cancer, then the studies are sound, in that the links between ST (alone and in modern form) and cancer are weak at best.
Me, as a practicing doctor (albeit on the other end of the body), I still favor no ST tobacco use because:
-
It has little proven benefit, aside from keeping alert, which can be done with other stimulants or nicorrette.
-
Chronic nicotine use interferes with estrogen receptors, which is not ideal for bone health among other things.
-
ST is very much a “gateway” to smoking. ST users are much, much more likely to become smokers than the general population. And smoking is a killer.
-
ST use generally coincides with heavier alcohol use (as noted on this thread). In fact, there are a number of rats studies where nicotine is given to rats and monkeys and they PREFERRED VODKA-spiked-water over water. Non-nicotine using animals did not. Alcohol use has a pretty solid cancer link in the mouth/throat.
-
I do believe ST is a mouth irritant and inflammation is very related to cancer. I have a sneaking suspicion that you could replicate the rates of cancer found in ST users by sticking any given irritating foreign object in peoples’ mouths over a long period of time. In fact, I bet you could find the same link (if not a stronger link) between people who floss and don’t floss.
Long story short, it is my opinion that, if you are a very moderate users, it’s no big deal. Not a can a day user, but a, “it’s 3:00pm and I am falling asleep at my desk user.”
The Dr. Skeptics of the world deal with idiots who do not understand the concept of moderation. I get this. If he tells a patient occasional use is fine, the patient will use two cans of snuff a day and puff on a cigar, then sue him when he or she gets cancer.
Same with me and pregnant women. A glass of wine (later in pregnancy) is probably is fine. In fact, it probably helps with blood pressure and preeclampsia because late-term pregnant women are stress monsters and about half-crazy.
Problem is, people are idiots, so if you tell them a glass of wine in the third trimester is fine, they drink a bottle a day starting in the second trimester, which is not fine. So, with the rarest exception of very smart patients who I know listen to me and with whom I am very comfortable, I tell my patients not to drink when pregnant.
– Mrs. Jewbacca, who again is an OB/GYN, not an ENT, and who, for the record would have washed out her residency had she not had a tube of nicorrette mints.
[quote]nickj_777 wrote:
What I can’t figure out is the Japanese Smoking and Lung Cancer Paradox. How does Japan have such a high rate of smokers but a low rate of lung cancer and a long life expectancy? Japanese traditionally have good diets. I am wondering has there been any studies comparing rates of tobacco related cancers in athletic health conscious smokers or chewers as opposed to non-health conscious smokers.
If Japanese are healthier people overall maybe smoking is less harmful to them than North Americans who smoke. Maybe North Americans who smoke are more inclined to be less healthy in all aspects of their lives. I don’t know.[/quote]
Genetics. People are not created equal. They are also not fat.
– Mrs. J
[quote]Jewbacca wrote:
[quote]Velvet Elvis wrote:
[quote]Jewbacca wrote:
[quote]jkondash89 wrote:
I recently quit dipping [/quote]
Why?
Dipping has no effect on cancer rates:
Dipping actually marginally helps cardiovascular health:
Long story short, while tobaccos SMOKE will kill you, sucking on tobacco is harmless, if nasty.
The FDA, of course, is 12 years behind the curve on this.
[/quote]
Thanks for linking those … Now I can continue my spiral of self destruction armed with the knowledge that it’s just a harmless, albeit nasty, habit …
Are those studies MRS Jewbacca approved?
[/quote]
Mildly approved, but tobacco use is still mildly disapproved.
The science regarding smokeless tobacco is far from settled. It does appear that the link to cancer of ST alone is pretty weak; certainly nothing like smoking.
Which side you believe depends on what camp you come from.
If you are like Dr. Skeptic, which comes from the camp that believes tobacco has been proven resoundingly bad and any tobacco product has to prove itself safe, then these studies don’t do that. ST is not proven safe.
If you come from my husband’s camp that does not condemn tobacco and believes one must prove ST causes cancer, then the studies are sound, in that the links between ST (alone and in modern form) and cancer are weak at best.
Me, as a practicing doctor (albeit on the other end of the body), I still favor no ST tobacco use because:
-
It has little proven benefit, aside from keeping alert, which can be done with other stimulants or nicorrette.
-
Chronic nicotine use interferes with estrogen receptors, which is not ideal for bone health among other things.
-
ST is very much a “gateway” to smoking. ST users are much, much more likely to become smokers than the general population. And smoking is a killer.
-
ST use generally coincides with heavier alcohol use (as noted on this thread). In fact, there are a number of rats studies where nicotine is given to rats and monkeys and they PREFERRED VODKA-spiked-water over water. Non-nicotine using animals did not. Alcohol use has a pretty solid cancer link in the mouth/throat.
-
I do believe ST is a mouth irritant and inflammation is very related to cancer. I have a sneaking suspicion that you could replicate the rates of cancer found in ST users by sticking any given irritating foreign object in peoples’ mouths over a long period of time. In fact, I bet you could find the same link (if not a stronger link) between people who floss and don’t floss.
Long story short, it is my opinion that, if you are a very moderate users, it’s no big deal. Not a can a day user, but a, “it’s 3:00pm and I am falling asleep at my desk user.”
The Dr. Skeptics of the world deal with idiots who do not understand the concept of moderation. I get this. If he tells a patient occasional use is fine, the patient will use two cans of snuff a day and puff on a cigar, then sue him when he or she gets cancer.
Same with me and pregnant women. A glass of wine (later in pregnancy) is probably is fine. In fact, it probably helps with blood pressure and preeclampsia because late-term pregnant women are stress monsters and about half-crazy.
Problem is, people are idiots, so if you tell them a glass of wine in the third trimester is fine, they drink a bottle a day starting in the second trimester, which is not fine. So, with the rarest exception of very smart patients who I know listen to me and with whom I am very comfortable, I tell my patients not to drink when pregnant.
– Mrs. Jewbacca, who again is an OB/GYN, not an ENT, and who, for the record would have washed out her residency had she not had a tube of nicorrette mints.[/quote]
Thanx for weighing in with your perspective Mrs J 
[quote]Jewbacca wrote:
[quote]Velvet Elvis wrote:
[quote]Jewbacca wrote:
[quote]jkondash89 wrote:
I recently quit dipping [/quote]
Why?
Dipping has no effect on cancer rates:
Dipping actually marginally helps cardiovascular health:
Long story short, while tobaccos SMOKE will kill you, sucking on tobacco is harmless, if nasty.
The FDA, of course, is 12 years behind the curve on this.
[/quote]
Thanks for linking those … Now I can continue my spiral of self destruction armed with the knowledge that it’s just a harmless, albeit nasty, habit …
Are those studies MRS Jewbacca approved?
[/quote]
Mildly approved, but tobacco use is still mildly disapproved.
The science regarding smokeless tobacco is far from settled. It does appear that the link to cancer of ST alone is pretty weak; certainly nothing like smoking.
Which side you believe depends on what camp you come from.
If you are like Dr. Skeptic, which comes from the camp that believes tobacco has been proven resoundingly bad and any tobacco product has to prove itself safe, then these studies don’t do that. ST is not proven safe.
If you come from my husband’s camp that does not condemn tobacco and believes one must prove ST causes cancer, then the studies are sound, in that the links between ST (alone and in modern form) and cancer are weak at best.
Me, as a practicing doctor (albeit on the other end of the body), I still favor no ST tobacco use because:
-
It has little proven benefit, aside from keeping alert, which can be done with other stimulants or nicorrette.
-
Chronic nicotine use interferes with estrogen receptors, which is not ideal for bone health among other things.
-
ST is very much a “gateway” to smoking. ST users are much, much more likely to become smokers than the general population. And smoking is a killer.
-
ST use generally coincides with heavier alcohol use (as noted on this thread). In fact, there are a number of rats studies where nicotine is given to rats and monkeys and they PREFERRED VODKA-spiked-water over water. Non-nicotine using animals did not. Alcohol use has a pretty solid cancer link in the mouth/throat.
-
I do believe ST is a mouth irritant and inflammation is very related to cancer. I have a sneaking suspicion that you could replicate the rates of cancer found in ST users by sticking any given irritating foreign object in peoples’ mouths over a long period of time. In fact, I bet you could find the same link (if not a stronger link) between people who floss and don’t floss.
Long story short, it is my opinion that, if you are a very moderate users, it’s no big deal. Not a can a day user, but a, “it’s 3:00pm and I am falling asleep at my desk user.”
The Dr. Skeptics of the world deal with idiots who do not understand the concept of moderation. I get this. If he tells a patient occasional use is fine, the patient will use two cans of snuff a day and puff on a cigar, then sue him when he or she gets cancer.
Same with me and pregnant women. A glass of wine (later in pregnancy) is probably is fine. In fact, it probably helps with blood pressure and preeclampsia because late-term pregnant women are stress monsters and about half-crazy.
Problem is, people are idiots, so if you tell them a glass of wine in the third trimester is fine, they drink a bottle a day starting in the second trimester, which is not fine. So, with the rarest exception of very smart patients who I know listen to me and with whom I am very comfortable, I tell my patients not to drink when pregnant.
– Mrs. Jewbacca, who again is an OB/GYN, not an ENT, and who, for the record would have washed out her residency had she not had a tube of nicorrette mints.[/quote]
Spot on as always Dr. Jewbacca