Delicious fresh taste. Fast working. Tobacco-free. Easy to use. Nicotine gum has a range of advantages. You regulate your nicotine cravings and get the effect you want by chewing the gum. The gum is discreet and easy to carry in your pocket or bag – always easy to grab when your nicotine cravings start bothering you.
All about nicotine gum
What is a nicotine gum?
Nicotine gum is exactly that – chewing gum containing nicotine. Use nicotine gum to fight tobacco cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine gum comes in two different strengths and many different flavours. It’s easy to find a nicotine gum that suits your taste buds.
Many people find nicotine gum to be a comforting aid in their fight to become tobacco free.
Nicotine gum and other nicotine replacement products help you fight the urge to smoke without all the damaging impacts that tobacco causes.
How does nicotine gum work?
Nicotine is released when you chew nicotine gum. The nicotine is absorbed through the lining of your mouth, reaches your bloodstream and thus suppresses withdrawal symptoms and tobacco cravings.
How to use nicotine gum:
Start chewing – soon you will feel an increasingly strong flavour.
Stop chewing and keep the gum still at one side of the mouth. The taste fades off and the nicotine is absorbed through the lining of your mouth.
Start chewing again and repeat the process over 30 minutes.
You control the level of nicotine intake with the way you chew. More chewing releases more nicotine. It also increases the risk of you swallowing the nicotine, rather than allowing the body to absorb it through the lining of the mouth. There is no danger in swallowing nicotine, but it may sting your throat and you won’t get the desired anti-craving effect.
Therefore, always make sure to follow the instructions above when using nicotine gum. Used correctly, nicotine gum is a powerful weapon against withdrawal symptoms.
Where can I buy nicotine gum?
Nicotine gum can be bought without prescription at pharmacies or in grocery stores, and you must be over the age of 18.
Nicotine gum can also be bought online.
What are the pros and cons of nicotine gum?
For some people, nicotine gum is the perfect method to fight the urge to smoking. Others prefer different nicotine replacement therapies. We all have our individual preferences and there are pros and cons with all nicotine replacement products.
Advantages of nicotine gum include
Many pleasant and fresh flavours.
Easy to use.
Fast effect against the urge to smoke.
The release of nicotine can easily be controlled by the way you chew.
Provides stimulation in the mouth, which may be critical for people who are trying to quit smoking.
Disadvantages of nicotine gums include
Uncomfortable for people with dental problems.
Some side effects, e.g. throat irritation and heartburn.
Residual product that must be discarded.
May be laxative
Unsure if nicotine gum is something for you? Buy a small package and try it out. If the gum disagrees with your, or if you don’t achieve the desired outcome, remember that there are many other nicotine replacement therapies available. You are bound to find another product that suits your needs better.
What are the ingredients in nicotine gum?
Nicotine is the active substance in nicotine gum. Nicotine is released when you chew the gum and is then absorbed through the lining of your mouth. Nicotine gum may also contain sorbitol, a type of sugar naturally present in apples, other fruits and berries. Sorbitol is used as a sweetener and gives the gum a nice flavour. Sorbitol can be laxative in large doses.
Are there any side effects of nicotine gum?
Some of us are more sensitive than others, and some people may have a reaction to certain things. Nicotine gum has several side effects. If you experience more negative side effects than benefits, then there are good reasons to try other nicotine replacement products.
Common side effects from nicotine gum include:
Nausea
Sore throat
Diarrhoea
Cough
Hiccups
Oral problems
Burping
Fatigue
Headache
Is nicotine gum bad for the teeth?
Chewing nicotine gum may cause or aggravate dental issues. Compared to cigarettes and the discolouration and tooth decay that those can cause, nicotine gum is a much better option.
How much nicotine is there in nicotine gum?
Nicotine gum comes in different strengths for you to find a dose that works for you.
Common strengths are:
2mg 4mg
With both stronger and weaker strengths, you should aim for a strength that helps you manage your withdrawal symptoms. The bigger your daily intake of tobacco, the stronger gum should be used initially.
If your consumption is less than 20 cigarettes per day, then the 2mg gum should be enough to keep tobacco cravings at bay. If you are a heavy smoker, then you will be better off with a stronger gum.
How long should I use nicotine gum for?
The length of the treatment differs between people, the same way as tobacco addictions varies among people. Some people become nicotine free relatively easily, while others experience a tougher journey.
The recommended treatment period is 3 months, after which one should try and cut down the number of pieces of gum per day, to ultimately be able to go without.
Once you have got into a treatment routine and feel you can control your cravings, then you can slowly start to cut down on the number of pieces of gum per day. Most people can manage with 8 to 12 pieces of gum per day, regardless of the nicotine strength in the gum.
Never use more than 24 pieces of gum per day. When cutting back, you can shift to a lower dose gum, and eventually not use any nicotine gum at all.
Try to cut back gradually. Long-term consumption of nicotine gum – more than a year – is not recommended.
Tip 1. It is important that the initial dosage is not too low. Underdosing reduces the chances of becoming tobacco free.
Tip 2. Are you ready to stop using nicotine gum? Do you feel you have overcome the withdrawal symptoms? Good! If you have some gum left in the package, then keep them. Even if you have quit smoking and are completely free from using tobacco, it is a good idea to have nicotine gum nearby. The urge to smoke can be triggered by different situations and occur when you least expect it. Being able to quickly fight the craving reduces the risk of having that cigarette!
How do I know if nicotine gum will work for me?
If you chew normal gum often then you are likely to get used to nicotine gum quickly. It may also be a suitable option for people who find it hard to break the habit of having something in their mouth. Many smokers find it at least as hard to break the psychological habits, as it is to break the physical nicotine addiction.
Nicotine gum allows one to control the amount of nicotine that is released, which is not possible with e.g. nicotine patches.
Nicotine gum is easy to use and handy to keep in the handbag or pocket. It’s comforting to know you have gum within reach when the urge to smoke kicks in.
The only way to know if nicotine gum is a good option for you, is to try them.
Do you not get the desired effect?
Do you not like the taste?
Do you feel uncomfortable chewing?
There are many other quit smoking products available. Ask your doctor or pharmacist. Becoming tobacco free shouldn’t be unnecessarily hard.
Oh no! I accidently swallowed a piece of nicotine gum. Is it harmful?
Not at all. To swallow a piece of nicotine gum does not lead to any specific health risks 😊. The gum is designed to be used in the mouth and for the lining of your mouth to absorb the nicotine. If you accidently swallow the gum, then the nicotine remains inside the gum and you don’t get the benefit that otherwise would fight your withdrawal symptoms.
Can nicotine gum be used during a pregnancy?
Nicotine is harmful for the baby. During pregnancy, you should choose other non-nicotine-based methods to quit smoking. Nicotine in the mother’s bloodstream is passed on to the foetus. It also impacts the blood supply to the placenta and uterus, which in turn may impact adversely on the baby’s development and possibly also lead to premature birth.
Further, nicotine passes through breast milk to the baby. You should thus avoid nicotine gum, nicotine and tobacco all together when you breastfeed.
Nicotine gum and children
Precaution must be taken to ensure children don’t consume nicotine. Nicotine is a toxin which children are particularly sensitive to. Nicotine gum should always be kept away from children, not least because they taste good. Children may be used to, and like, chewing gum. Nicotine gum can be deceiving, as they look very much like traditional chewing gum.