Would gargling with listerine and brushing frequently combat the negative affects of chewing tobacco?

Question

Like if I gargled twice a day, and brushed my teeth 3 times, would I still get gum diseases and stuff?

Answer 1

no it will not reduce your chance to get an oral cancer at all.

Answer 2

It might help your breath, but it will not reduce your risk of oral cancer.

Answer 3

No, actually you make things worse. chewing tobacco obviously puts you at risk for oral cancer. There are only 2 choices to help with this, either quit or try to change the spot you hold the chew each time, also do frequent checks of your oral tissues to spot ulcerations or wrinkly white patches early. Chewing tobacco also increases gum disease. A good oral hygiene routine with regular brushing and especially flossing will help. However, brushing too often, too hard, or with a medium or hard bristled tooth brush could increase gum recession and wear increasing your problem with gum disease. Next, mouthwash can dry out tissues if used too often, especially alcohol based rinses. A better option would be hydrogen peroxide. Before bed, swish, spit, do not rinse/eat/drink. The peroxide will bubble better to clean beneath gumlines and inbetween teeth. Also, it has a whitening effect which people who use tobacco usually like. Regular dental cleanings with a dental hygienist will help the most. Lastly, chewing tobacco can begin to wear down tooth enamel. Alternating where you hold the chew may help, but other than this the only thing that will help is fluoride. Fluoride is found in your toothpaste, but only helps if you do not rinse after brushing or eat or drink for at least 30 minutes. I recommend brushing in the morning, then spit, do not rinse/eat/drink for 30 minutes. Or, if you prefer you can get a fluoride mouthrinse and use that in the morning, but same deal, swish, spit, do not rinse/eat/drink for 30 minutes. Chewing tobacco is very abrasive to teeth and gums, not to mention it causes oral cancer. Also, it decreases blood flow to the gums which decreases immune system response to bad oral bacteria increasing gum problems such as bone loss.

Answer 4

I am a retired Dental Hygienist.  I think you might be a little confused about the "gum disease" (vs cancer) part.  

First, about the "negative effects of chewing tobacco", it causes cancer of the mouth.  When chewing tobacco is stuck in an area of your mouth, it causes changes in the soft tissues of your mouth.  Usually the first signs is a change from the tissue being pink to white.  So if you chew, look at the area where you place the chew very carefully with a good light and pull back your cheek and inspect all around....not just that area but all around your mouth and be sure to look under on on the sides of you tongue.  If you see any white area,  go to your dentist and have the dentist refer you for a biopsy.  A biopsy is the ONLY way to know if it is percancerous or not...or gone all the way to being cancer. Often chewing causes cancer much sooner than smoking cigarettes.  Many YOUNG men have been diagnosised with cancer of the mouth and also have died. It can metastize to the brain easily since it is very close.  So if you chew  do yourself a BIG favor and quit or you know someone you care about that does help them to stop.

AS FOR YOUR QUESTION about listerine and brushing, no neither of them would help prevent cancer from chewing.  They will help prevent "gum disease" (periodontial disease) if you don't already have it and if you have it then they will help to halt the progression.  Perio means around and dontial refers to teeth.  So it refers to the tissues that surround the tooth and hold the teeth in place.  The tissues are the bone that the teeth "sit in" and the gums that cover the bone.  Listerine and toothbrushing WILL definitely help.  Periodontial disease is caused by bacteria that lives in "plaque" (which is the clear sticky stuff that clings to your teeth.  When kids are told not to eat a lot of candy and to brush after eating it, it is because the bacteria fed on the sugar and then metabolize (eat) and the excreate (p**p) acids that eat away at the enamel of the tooth and cause cavities.  In Periodontial disease the bacteria cause inflamation of the Periodontial tissues.  Over time the inflamation can destroy the bone that holds the teeth in place and you can loose teeth.  Here I should add that chewing tobacco worsens and on going disease because the chew it toxic to the tisses.  

Brushing every day AND FLOSSING (since toothbrushes can't physically get under the gumline inbetween teeth) you can help your self to prevent gum problems.  Brush your teeth of 3-4 minutes at a time and floss (which when you get good at it only takes 1 minute.  Hope this helps.

Choose to be well.....and happy.  All the best.