My dentist not happy with my gums

[Reynard]

So I just got back from seeing my dentist. He noticed that on either side of my mouth at the top there were two white patches, where I place my snus (since using snus they have always been there, and disappear upon cessation of snus). He told me he'll see me in three weeks, and to try and stop using tobacco, and if the patches are still there, I'll have to see a consultant. I'm not naturally a very assertive person, but when it comes to my snus, and knowing what a shit time I have when I'm off tobacco, I piped up. I explained that snus does not cause mouth cancer, pasteurisation, blah blah blah, and that there was no way - in hell - that I was quitting snus.

So I guess I'll be seeing a consultant at some point.

[lxskllr]

I wouldn't see a consultant for that. Regardless of how your health care system is setup, it would be wasting /someone's/ money. They try to be authoritative, but many times don't know what they're talking about. They're the expert, and you need to STFU, and do what you're told. I'll wager that you're more expert in this particular niche than your dentist is. Think about that for minute. YOU'RE the expert. Don't let them put you "in your place". You know what's best, and you know what to expect. White patches are sub-optimal, but no big deal in the end. You also know you can get gum recession, but that's a trivial price to to pay for peace of mind.

[Frosted]

If they've been there since you started using snus and disappear after you stop, sounds like a salt issue.

[Reynard]

I wouldn't see a consultant for that. Regardless of how your health care system is setup, it would be wasting /someone's/ money. They try to be authoritative, but many times don't know what they're talking about. They're the expert, and you need to STFU, and do what you're told. I'll wager that you're more expert in this particular niche than your dentist is. Think about that for minute. YOU'RE the expert. Don't let them put you "in your place". You know what's best, and you know what to expect. White patches are sub-optimal, but no big deal in the end. You also know you can get gum recession, but that's a trivial price to to pay for peace of mind.

I've researched the arse off oral tobacco and health, like most on SnusOn I would think.

Society is all about the maintenance of established roles, the patient-doctor thing. It affects body language, tone of voice, and even the way we think. The former's knowledge of medical science is disproportionately undervalued. This is the way things work, and doesn't allow for the 'trumping' of medical advice with more fully researched counter-advice, like with niche areas, as you say. If you put your foot down, you negate their role, and they get offended / feel ego-shrinkage. But today I had to at least say 'there's no way I'm quitting tobacco'. That's all that needed to be said, the rest is academic.

[lxskllr]

If they've been there since you started using snus and disappear after you stop, sounds like a salt issue.

^^^

My dentist was surprised my white patches were gone between visits. He was so convinced it was serious damage, he couldn't conceive of anything else. As it happens, I cycle my snus use between a few different brands, and Ettan and General were on current rotation. Both have a fairly high salt content, so it affected my gums. Add to that, I sleep with snus in, and I ended up with white patches. My next time through I wasn't using Swedish Match at all, and had no white patches.

You need to deal with with some dentists the same way you deal with FOB Pakistani in the market. You nod and smile even though you have no idea what they're talking about, and go on with business ;^)

[Reynard]

If they've been there since you started using snus and disappear after you stop, sounds like a salt issue.

Haha, that's what I suggested to the dentist.

[Reynard]

Incidentally, I'll be substituting snus at least in part with a lower deck of 2 Oliver Twist. Then maybe my upper gums will be less of a workhorse. I sleep with snus in too, craaazy dreams :-)

[Reynard]

My next time through I wasn't using Swedish Match at all, and had no white patches

I'm mostly using Oden's Kanel, Oden's Lakrits, Catch Liquorice, Ettan White and Offroad Original - all portions. I haven't lösed in months. Didn't realise SM had more salt.

Sounds like you put your foot down Lx, that's good. I agree with your philosophy.

[lxskllr]

Didn't realise SM had more salt.

That's just my perception. I don't have numbers to back it up, but it tastes saltier to me, and irritates my gums more. This is primarily the lössnus I'm talking about.

[Reynard]

That's just my perception. I don't have numbers to back it up, but it tastes saltier to me, and irritates my gums more. This is primarily the lössnus I'm talking about.

I absolutely love Roda Lacket lös. And portions for that matter. The grind is sublime, and the fruitiness mmm. Might pick up a roll when I'm next in Sweden (which is happening this year). Hmm lös, might be a nice change of pace, I have a few cans of nordstrommen and odens Kanel in the freezer :-)

It escaped me that you're a lös fiend, lx :-p

[Snusdog]

If they've been there since you started using snus and disappear after you stop, sounds like a salt issue.

^^^^^ This +1000

[voodooman]

[snusjus]

This completely invalidates the dentist's point. The fact that medical -- and dental opinion -- fluctuates throughout time shows that supposed "truths" in the fields are often fluid and deviate greatly depending on geographic location and time period.

[Reynard]

^^^^^ This +1000

Yep, I'm confident you guys are right on this

This completely invalidates the dentist's point. The fact that medical -- and dental opinion -- fluctuates throughout time shows that supposed "truths" in the fields are often fluid and deviate greatly depending on geographic location and time period.

Absolutely. 500 years ago the earth was flat. 50 years ago it was healthy to irradiate drinking water (seriously, you could buy machines, insane). Science is a model, nothing more.

[Skell18]

I find oden's really dries my gums and lip and they get shriveled up I don't use oden's and it goes away, 6 months ago when I went tot he dentist he mentioned nothing to me about my gums showing spots or anything, i'm due a checkup this month so will report back. On my last visit I took the portion out just before I got into the chair, not a word was said, he said my teeth and gums were fine.