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Pouches have become very popular alternatives to nicotine. Industry reports revealed that the global nicotine pouches market size is estimated to be worth $5.8 billion in 2022. The same report also forecasted a readjusted size of $29.6 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 31.0% during the review period. This shows how nicotine pouches are not just a fad but a new trend that will continue to grow in the future. But despite its popularity, some people are still wary of switching to nicotine pouches because of the myths circulating about them.
In this article, we will discuss and debunk some common misconceptions about nicotine pouches, so you can feel assured when you switch to these nicotine substitutes.
Nicotine pouches will ruin your gums
Since nicotine pouches are taken orally, people assume that using them will cause gum disease. But that’s not the case. Nicotine pouches do not cause gum disease, and no studies suggest that nicotine pouches increase your likelihood of gum disease or tooth loss. According to Noah Gasner and Ryan Schure, the primary cause of gum disease worldwide are poor oral health habits and smoking or chewing tobacco. Because nicotine pouches are tobacco-free, you are not exposing yourself to gum disease by using them. However, you should throw or swap out the nicotine pouch after 30 minutes because keeping the pouch in your mouth all day will push plaque against your teeth and gums.
Nicotine pouches can be used once a day only
Another myth is that you can only use one nicotine pouch a day. The truth is you can use as many as you like in a day, given that you are not experiencing any undesirable symptoms after using them. A blog post published by Prilla on nicotine pouch usage shared that because each user has a unique nicotine level tolerance, specifying an exact number of nicotine pouches to use per day can be tricky. For your reference, most pouches available on the market have varying strengths ranging from 2 mg to 8 mg. So if you’re new to using nicotine pouches, it may be best to start with a small number of pouches in a day and adjust your intake accordingly once you get used to them.
Nicotine pouches are ineffective smoking cessation products
Because these pouches contain nicotine, many people regard them as ineffective or redundant smoking cessation products. Although they contain nicotine, pouches differ from traditional cigarettes because they have lower nicotine concentration levels. This helps individuals who want to cease smoking to gradually quit the habit without experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms. As a matter of fact, the American Cancer Society explained that many studies have shown that using nicotine replacement treatments (NRT), like nicotine pouches, can nearly double an individual’s chances of quitting smoking. If pouches are paired with behavioral therapies or another type of NRT, it even improves one’s chance of being smoke-free.
Nicotine pouches are expensive
Lastly, people assume that nicotine pouches are expensive because they’re new and considered trendy. However, purchasing them will not break the bank. For example, a tin of nicotine pouches costs around $36 to $40, depending on the strength, flavor, and brand. But because each canister contains around ten pieces, you only spend about $3.89 per pouch. Plus, the more you buy in a single pack, the cheaper each pouch becomes. They also have an extended shelf-life, allowing you to store them for longer periods without buying new ones. Because of this, nicotine pouches are viable nicotine substitutes even if you are cost-conscious.
Researching new products and trends lets you become more aware of their pros and cons. As we discussed in our previous article on ‘Long-Term Daily Vaping Doesn’t Cause Lung Damage’, many people quickly judge vaping as dangerous without reviewing research-backed reports about long-term vaping. Hopefully, you learned more about what nicotine pouches are and understand how they work with this article.
