Nicotine pouches are a popular alternative to snus, vaping, and regular cigarettes. The market offers dozens of products in various flavours and strengths, making them suitable for nearly everyone. While nicotine pouches have many benefits and strong points, they also come with some drawbacks, including several side effects. What are these side effects, and what should you be aware of? 

What Are Nicotine Pouches?

Nicotine pouches are small, white sachets used similarly to chewing tobacco. This means you place them directly under your lip. Unlike traditional snus, however, they usually do not contain tobacco and instead include nicotine extracted from the Nicotiana tabacum plant.  

The composition of nicotine pouches also includes water, sweeteners, and flavourings, giving them a pleasant, either sweet or fresh taste. Currently, menthol and fruit flavours like raspberry, apple, banana, or blueberry are particularly popular. Some brands even offer less traditional alternatives with coffee, chocolate, or vanilla flavours.  

Nicotine pouches often contain vitamins and minerals and are typically weaker than regular snus, making them suitable for beginners.  

How Many Nicotine Pouches Can You Use Per Day?

The maximum number of pouches you can use per day generally cannot be determined. This is mainly because different products have varying strengths. While some pouches contain only up to 5 mg of nicotine, others exceed 10 mg.

Moreover, each user has a different tolerance level. Long-term smokers are accustomed to nicotine and can consume more pouches without feeling significant effects. Conversely, beginners should be cautious with dosing.  

Regular users who have been using nicotine pouches for some time and have developed a nicotine tolerance usually consume about half a can, which is around 8 to 12 portions daily. 

If you are just starting with nicotine pouches and are unsure of the appropriate amount for you, proceed slowly. Monitor how the porudct affects you. If you feel dizzy or unwell, reduce the dose.  

Side Effects of Nicotine Pouches

Are you curious about the side effects of nicotine pouches? These are typically divided into two basic categories: short-term and long-term. 

Nicotine Pouches – Short-Term Side Effects

These side effects occur whortly after you start using the pouches. They are characterized by being less unpleasant than long-term effects and can usually be managed relatively easy.  

  • Bad breath – one of the biggest issues users of nicotine pouches, snus, vaping, and cigarettes face. The cause is a combination of several factors, most commonly nicotine, which reduces saliva production, leading to dry mouth and increased bacteria that cause bad breath. Another factor is the presence of chemical additives in the pouches.
  • Risk of tooth decay – nicotine pouches contain sugar or other sweeteners that increase the risk of cavities. Additionally, nicotine affects blood flow to the gums, reducing the teeth’s ability to defend against cavities and other complications.  
  • Unpleasant taste – after using some pouches, you might be left with an unpleasant aftertaste in your mouth. In such situations, it is a good idea to switch products or try other flavours.
  • Gum irritation – nicotine and other additives in the pouches can irritate the gums, causing them to become swollen or red.  
  • Nausea– a common side effect, especially for beginners who are not used to nicotine, which is rapidly absorbed into the body after using a pouch and can irritate the stomach. 
  • Dizziness – another issue mainly affecting beginners. Nicotine constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the brain and causing dizziness or vertigo.  
  • Increased blood pressure – while nicotine increases blood pressure, this effect is usually short-term. Therefore, it is less likely that pouches will cause cardiovascular diseases compared to other smoked or smokeless products containing tobacco (snus or cigarettes). Studies have shown that tobacco is often associated with many heart diseases. 

Nicotine Pouches – Long-Term Side Effects

These side effects occur with long-term use, measured in months to years, and are therefore harder to manage.  

Long-term effects include:

  • Increased risk of oral, throat, or pancreatic cancer – the nicotine in nicotine pouches can irritate the mucous membranes of the mouth, pharynx, and larynx, increasing the risk of cancer. In the case of the pancreas, nicotine can promote inflammatory processes, creating an ideal environment for the development of various diseases, such as cancer.  
  • Periodontitis – manifests as inflamed, painful, and swollen gums that become numb and often bleed. If untreated, it can lead to tooth loss.  
  • Receding gums – typically caused by untreated periodontitis. The first sign is increased tooth sensitivity. Later, you may notice a larger gap where the gum meets the tooth.  
  • Slower wound healing – this mainly applies to wound in the mouth. This problem is caused by nicotine irritating the gums and lips. Other ingredients that your body does not react well to can also have an irritating effect.  

How to Avoid the Side Effects of Nicotine Pouches?

You can avoid or at least limit the short-term and long-term side effects of nicotine pouches by following these tips:  

  • If you are bothered by bad breath or an unpleasant taste after removing a pouch, always carry gum with you. Alternatively, quickly brush your teeth.  
  • You can minimize the risk of gum irritation, cavities, or periodontitis with proper oral care and regular dental check-ups. 
  • Avoid nausea and dizziness by not using pouches on an empty stomach. Also, be mindful of the correct nicotine dose. 
  • Minimize the risk of increased blood pressure, receding gums, and oral, throat, and pancreatic cancer by choosing nicotine-free products. The brand KickUp, for example, offers such products.

Alternatives to Nicotine Pouches

If nicotine pouches don’t appeal to you, or if you want to try something else alongside them, you have other products available, such as:  

Snus

Snus is very similar to nicotine pouches. It is packed in small pouches placed under the lip. The exception is loose snus, which is granular and needs to be shaped into a ball before consumption.  

Snus contains tobacco and regular nicotine, not extracts. The market offers hundreds of different products, from weaker ones suitable for beginners to extra strong variants with a nicotine content of over 45 mg/g.  

Popular snus brands include General, Siberia, Jakobssons, Makla and Göteborgs Rapé.

Vape

Vape or electronic cigarettes are an excellent choice for regular smokers. They can be disposable or reusable. The first alternative is advantageous because when you finish it, you just throw it away without the need to refill it.   

Electronic cigarettes also come in a variety of interesting flavours. For example, the brand Aroma King produces banana, blueberry, cherry, melon, and mango-flavoured vapes, so you will definitely find something you like.