Oh my gosh.. you have no idea how glad I am that someone else does this! I figure it as a grey area. Yeah of course you shouldn't touch it... but if you absolutely have to then at least you didn't swallow it.
I use "chewing and spitting" as an absolute last resort, and the knowledge that I'm doing something that gross usually keeps me from doing it again for at few months.
As far as cravings, definately stirs them up again for me. Anouther reason why it's not a great thing. Probably all around not a good idea, but I do totally sympathize.