I know I'm the new guy, and wouldn't want to cause a stir, but..
How addicted to nicotine are you? I'd kill to have the option to go back 10 years to your age and eliminate this addiction entirely. You've already experienced gum disease due to dipping so why move on to cigarettes or ecigs? I'm just trying to understand the logic, but I mean no harm by it.
If you truly feel the need to use an ecig, I recommend the Joye 510 or eGo. Both have been trouble free while I've found a few others to be problematic and a waste of money.
Which every way you choose to go, Good luck.