Why Quit

People have used smokeless tobacco for decades and even centuries. Today, an estimated 20 million Americans use smokeless tobacco products. Many believe that they avoid the dangers of smoking tobacco. They believe that by not inhaling the tar of cigarettes, they avoid the lung cancer so prevalent among smokers. But smokeless tobacco has its own problems.

Smokeless tobacco irritates the gums, causes them to recede, and ultimately may cause the teeth to loosen. It also irritates the inside lips, cheeks, and at times the throat. Additionally, smokeless tobacco causes sores inside the cheeks. These sores are known as leukoplakia. These sores appear as white patches, typically between the cheeks and gums.

Additionally, smokeless tobacco is increasingly viewed as a primary cause of mouth cancer. The smokeless tobacco contains nitrosamine, cadmium, and other chemicals. Short term users may be four times as likely to develop cancer as nonusers and long term users may be fifty times as likely to develop cancer as nonusers. The risks of tumors are greatest at the place where the plug or dip of tobacco is held, typically between the cheek and gum. This is the exact spot that QuitWrap protects.

Smokeless tobacco may also lead to addiction. It appears that direct contact of the tobacco with the mucous membrane combined with the extended time that the smokeless tobacco is held between the cheek and gum creates a localized concentrated level of nicotine which is absorbed through the mucous membranes. Smokeless tobacco contains high levels of nicotine; some researchers have proposed that dipping with smokeless tobacco is more addictive than smoking tobacco, because higher levels of nicotine are released into the bloodstream during use. Unfortunately, users suffer through the same pangs of withdrawal as smokers, with symptoms that include irritability, anxiety, insomnia, and impaired concentration. For some, to stop using smokeless tobacco is simply not perceived as worth the symptoms of withdrawal.

The typical focus to those seeking to avoid the above problems is to try to stop the tobacco's use. Such efforts may emphasize quitting or substituting artificial products for the smokeless tobacco. Programs include a national ban on smokeless tobacco television advertising since 1986 and warnings on the tobacco cans stating, "This product may cause mouth cancer." Legislation and articles are aimed usually at stopping dipping or otherwise using smokeless tobacco. Some programs suggest substituting the tobacco nicotine with nicotine gum. This practice minimizes the direct chemical contact of smokeless tobacco. Another option is a mint flavored snuff which is advertised as containing no tobacco and no nicotine.

These advertisements, programs, and products provide a substitute. They do not address the problem of continuing to use tobacco while lessening the risk of using the tobacco. While abstinence may be commendable, it does not address lessening the discomfort and other effects for those who refuse or are unable to stop. Also, it does not provide the physiological effects of nicotine from true tobacco. Therefore, some individuals simply will continue to use tobacco.

Even after decades of use and efforts by some, what remains then is the lack of a suitable device, method, or system for addressing the needs of those who use smokeless tobacco. A solution is needed that will protect oral tissues from the concentrated levels of chemicals which appear to be a result of the direct contact of tobacco fibers. The solution should be commercially feasible. This aspect involves the expense to manufacture and purchase. It also involves: the compactness and ability to be stored; flexibility to conform to variations between various users' mouths and within different locations of an user's mouth; minimal interference with the normal routine of dipping so as to encourage use of the solution; minimal interference with normal occurrences throughout the day such as speaking and drinking; sanitary and clean to use; and in general so natural and convenient that the user could routinely chose to use the solution with his regular dipping habits.

QuitWrap seeks to solve these problems. It involves a shield which helps act as a barrier or a restriction to reduce tobacco contact with the sensitive inner cheek lining and gum sufaces while dipping smokeless tobacco. It can be capable of folding, can be closed ended, can be flexible for bending, or can be hinged. It can be creased for folding assistance.

Take the QuitWrap challenge

We are so confident of our product that we challenge you in many ways to help you reach your goals. To be tobacco free is an admirable goal to helping you live an abundant, healthy, non-addictive life. Start with conquering your tobbacco addiction, and realize you may have the power to triumph over other lifes challenges.