My husband has been a heavy user of chewing tobacco for about twenty years. He has tried to quit over the years but has not been able to go past a week. My concern is that he recently has noticed a loose tooth. I have already observed on several occasion where he has blood on his teeth. He also has recurring cankor sores. Are these signs of mouth cancer or just gum disease? Also, he is very stubborn and refuses to see a dentist or a doctor. Any suggestions??

Hello Bugeyes

It is possible that your husband just has periodontal disease - it can cause loose teeth and bleeding from the gums. However, he does need to see a dentist for a proper diagnosis :alert: .

Chewing tobacco is not a good habit. It is linked to mouth cancers :bomb: , so it is good to stop the habit. The first link : Oral Cancer: Prevention and Detection in the section PATIENT'S GUIDE > PREVENTION has several pictures of mouth cancers in the Clinical Presentation section. THey might motivate your husband to stop!

You can order this free booklet for him Spitting into the Wind: The Facts About Dip and Chew It discusses harmful spit tobacco use in a colorful and graphic format. It includes information on addiction, toxic chemicals in tobacco and snuff, medical problems from use, warning signs of oral cancer, and tips to quit.

You can access this online booklet Spit Tobacco: A Guide for Quitting designed specifically for men who have decided to quit using spit tobacco or who are thinking about quitting. It contains information about developing a plan for quitting, as well as information on over-the-counter and prescription medications available to help break the nicotine habit.

Tell your husband to read the patient stories, too. Hope this information will help him to see his dentist for a diagnosis!

Best wishes.

Vinod :coffee: :coffee: