This post uses the term “oral nicotine products” to refer both to traditional tobacco-based nicotine pouches like Swedish snus and to “modern oral” nicotine pouches that are tobacco-free. It excludes nicotine gum and lozenges.
These products are designed to be placed inside the user’s mouth, between the upper lip and the gum.
Nicotine is rapidly absorbed through the oral mucosa and enters the general circulation without being metabolized. After about 20 – 60 minutes, when the effect and flavour have worn off, the user removes the pouch and discards it, often into a special container built into the lid of the package that the pouch was sold in.
Oral tobacco products have a bad reputation, based on chewing tobacco and traditional oral products (such as paan and gutkha) used in countries like India and Iran that contain many toxic compounds and can cause oral cancer. Modern snus and nicotine pouches are much cleaner and have health risks similar to medical nicotine replacement therapy
Swedish snus
Swedish snus is made from tobacco that is cleaned and purified to reduce toxicity. The pH and moisture content is carefully controlled for maximum benefit at the lowest possible risk. As a result, in October 2019, eight Swedish Match “General” brand name snus were authorized for marketing in the USA through the FDA’s modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) pathway. This means that the manufacturer can market these specific products with the claim “Using General Snus instead of cigarettes puts you at a lower risk of mouth cancer, heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.”
Dr. John Oyston – 2022-11-02.
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