Nicotine pouches have been marketed as the smokeless alternative to tobacco products for the last decade. They do not contain tobacco but rather a plant fiber called cellulose, along with nicotine powder, sweetener, artificial flavoring, and other fillers. These pouches are placed between the lip and gum allowing the nicotine to enter the bloodstream via saliva without smoking or spitting.
While commonly considered to be “healthier” than traditional tobacco products, these pouches are by no means a healthy alternative. Their addictive nature makes them especially harmful as they can contain just as much, if not more, nicotine than traditional cigarettes. Additionally, these products may be more appealing to a younger demographic who have not previously used traditional tobacco products and can actually lead to the use of cigarettes, due to the nicotine cravings.
Nicotine pouches also have a number of harmful and dangerous health side effects. The large concentration of nicotine can affect brain development and cardiovascular health. Your oral health can also be impacted in a similar manner to that of smokeless tobacco products, such as cavities, gum recession, lesions that may become cancerous.
While nicotine itself is not found to cause cancer, many of the ingredients found in these pouches have been labeled as Harmful and Potentially Harmful Constituents (HPHCs) by the FDA. In addition to these additives, nicotine pouches use artificial flavoring and sweeteners which can be linked to mouth sores, gum irritation, inflammation, and mouth ulcers.
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