This is one thing that I can really relate to. I used to smoke two packs of cigs a day, plus cigars and for 20 years I also chewed tobacco and dipped moist snuff. One day I noticed luekoplakic lesions on the insides of my mouth and after a double biopsy which cam back negative (thank God!) I bought myself a package of 4mg nicotine gum and hav'nt looked back since. Nicotine gum has a suprisingly nice "kick" to it and satisfied my cravings. The only thing is, it can be a bit expensive but it is definately MUCH safer. I have chewed it for a few years now (even though your supposed to gradually decrease the amount you chew) but from what I'm told, a lot of people just keep on chewing it. One word of advice though - don't get the nictine lozenges. They taste horrible (like eating chalk or somthing) and don't have near the "kick" as the gum.