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Kick the Habit

Your dentist can help you kick your smokeless tobacco habit. In addition to cleaning teeth and treating bad breath and puffy, swollen gums associated with tobacco use, your dentist may prescribe a variety of nicotine replacement therapies, such as a transdermal nicotine patch or chewing gum. Nicotine patches are worn for 24 hours over several weeks, supplying a steady flow of nicotine. Over the course of treatment the amount of nicotine in the patch decreases. Nicotine gum is slowly chewed every one to two hours. Each piece should be discarded after 20 to 30 minutes.

Make a Goal to Quit Tobacco

Pick a date and taper use as the date nears. Instead of using smokeless tobacco, carry substitutes like gum, hard candy and sunflower seeds.

Cut back on when and where you dip and chew. Let friends and family know that you're quitting and solicit their support. If they chew or smoke, ask them not to do it around you.

Make a list of three situations in which you're most likely to chew and smoke and make every effort to avoid using tobacco at those times.

Switch to a lower nicotine brand to help cut down your dose.