Here I am sharing my story in brief, as to how I could be able to quit chewing tobacco. During my college and university education I never dared to smoke or chew tobacco. During service I started smoking after instigation by a colleague. After about 4 years I switched over to chewing tobacco thinking that it was more socially acceptable. I have been addicted to tobacco in the form of Gutkha and Paan for about 30 years. I was taking it 15-16 times a day normally. Sometimes this number increases. After some years I realized that my mouth, gums, teeth and throat badly hurt and facing so many problems due to tobacco, I started trying to quit it but failed every time due to workload on my work place and other hardships of life. I was completely fed up with the habit of chewing Gutkha more so because I am little bit a singer too and my throat never cooperated until I take [Name redacted] 3-5 days before any singing performance comes. So I was searching any Doctor or clinic to help quit it.
One day I received a SMS on my cell phone in September 2014 offering help to quit tobacco or so. I simply replied and thereafter I received a call from the Dentess Dental Clinic, Aliganj Lucknow to contact them on a particular day & time. I went to the clinic on 4th Sep., 2014 where I came to know that this was a dental clinic and TII(Tobacco Intervention Initiative) Centre and S P O T(Spot & Prevent Oral Cancer Trauma) Centre as well. I met there Dr. Nimisha Budhwar, Dentist who listened to my previous history of tobacco addiction very carefully. She asked many questions about the urge and frequency of taking tobacco and also asked me to give in writing the time and circumstances of urge and other information regarding this.
She fixed a very special day 25th Sep., 2014, the beginning day of holly festival "Navratri" to quit the tobacco and advised to take Nicotex-2 Chewing Gum instead. Since I keenly wanted to get rid of tobacco because I was fed up with it, I easily accepted chewing gum to chew. It really worked as substitute to Gutkha. When I took the Nicotex-2 my urge toward tobacco became calm down. Dr. Nimisha started counseling me in every 3-4 weeks and during counseling she used to convince me in so many ways and emphasized to take Nicotex-2 only, whenever the urge of tobacco arises. She regulated my daily routine and monitored my intake of chewing gum and also advised me to start Yoga and keep busy in music with scheduled diet care. My mouth injuries and severe throat problems disappeared. Regained confidence but after a gap of about 40 days when out of the town, in obsession of some acute tension I took one Gutkha for which I became very much guilty. Coincidentally I received Doctor’s phone call. I told her the truth. She instructed me not to take tobacco further and chew only Nicotex at the time of need of tobacco. After that I followed her instructions. I again had to take Gutkha once after a gap of 2 months in a tense situation and told it to her. She again made me understand during the counseling, the harms of tobacco and instructed me not to take tobacco again. Sometimes I felt very depressed, rather in the state of trauma, I expressed my deep anger to the Doctor on phone or so but she always remained calm and patient.
However Dr Nimisha’s repeated counseling worked and now I completely gave up tobacco/Gutkha. I do not feel it’s urge now but still using chewing gum Niotex-2 in place of it. My Nicotex chewing gums reduced to 7-8 per day now. She advised me to indulge in Yoga and music to reduce it further. My mouth injuries had already gone within a month I quited the tobacco. My throat and voice became clear and smooth. I am surprised to listen to my changed voice and regained much confidence. At this point of time I requested the doctor who is a dentist, to take care of my teeth which had been worsened and needed many fillings and few root canals. She treated my teeth wonderfully which is being elaborated separately. She changed my life style completely and made my smile pleasant. For this the credit goes to Dr. Nimisha Budhwar, Dentist, Dentess Dental Clinic, Chandralok, Aliganj, Lucknow.
I have narrated my experience that how I could be able to succeed to quit my addiction of tobacco. I was in search of a clinic or a doctor to get rid of my tobacco habit. Incidentally I received a sms from a source regarding quitting of tobacco. I responded. Later I got a call from this clinic i.e. Dentess Dental Clinic, Chandralok, Aliganj, Lucknow. I did not know this clinic earlier.
There I met Dr. Nimisha Budhwar, Dentist on my turn. I told the doctor my willingness to quit tobacco. She checked my mouth, mouth injuries, spots etc. thoroughly and ruled out any serious problem prima facie. She started counseling sessions and fix a date to quit tobacco. The details of which have elaborated above. During counseling I realized that the doctor is very intelligent. She has deep knowledge and studies even on this subject also. During counseling her talks and approach are very much convincing.
This is all my experience with the above clinic regarding quitting tobacco. Thanks to the Doctor and her clinic. My dental treatment experience will be sent separately.
Avadhesh (64 yrs.)
