I started smoking at the age of 23, 30 years ago. The whole time I smoked, I was a full-time firefighter and for 20 years, a paramedic as well. I knew the risks involved with smoking, but could not find the motivation to quit. Approximately one year ago, my dentist sent me to a periodontist for advanced gum disease and a series of loose or lost teeth. The periodontist stated without reservation that my smoking was the main contributor to my gum disease. He also announced I would lose all my upper teeth and need a full denture, along with significant bridges in the bottom following many extracted teeth. I agreed to some of the proposed work on the bottom, but told him I would find a way to quit smoking so I could keep most of my teeth, if that was possible. I tried quitting cold turkey shortly before taking a trip to Florida at the end of February. I could go 3-4 days without a cigarette, then break down and have one or two in a day, followed by another 3-4 days tobacco-free. It was a terrible cycle to be on. While in Florida, two friends of my sister’s were vaping and they got my immediate attention. I tried some of the more readily available disposable e-cigarettes and found them lacking in what I was looking for. The flavors were limited, and truth be told, I had a smoking buddy while I was there. The analog cigarettes were winning again. I did get some advice from the two e-cig users on what to look for and where to look. Later in the week, we found an e-cig store and I was able to get started with an eGo starter kit and a menthol flavor at 11 mg of nicotine. The nicotine level was much closer to my usual intake; I was off and running with e-cigs. Once I returned home, I found a couple e-cigarette stores with more flavors of juice and more variety in the nicotine levels. Within two weeks, I was custom-blending juices at ever lower nicotine leves until I reached zero (0) nicotine by the end of April. I have been happily vaping at 0 ever since and have been working on mixing a few of my own juices, with and without tobacco flavors. The good news started with my next visit to the periodontist in mid-March. Without telling him, he immediately asked if I had quit smoking. I asked him why he thought that and he said my gums looked much better and healthier. I confirmed I was no longer smoking, but had gone to electronic cigarettes. He admitted having limited knowledge of them, but was of the opinion that they were better for my oral health. He felt that way because they did not have the tars, carbon monoxide, and other chemicals of the analog cigarettes. As I write this in late May, I have been back to the periodontist many more times and he has done a great deal of work on both jaws. Further, he stated I would probably only lose 2 teeth in the upper jaw due to previous damage to the roots and nerves. He felt all the other teeth had tightened up enough to keep them. My 0 nicotine adventures with vaping continue. I’m still working on juice flavors for my own use, and I can do it with most of my teeth still in my head.