Nicotine Gum

Nicotine gum is a form of anti-smoking aid that helps smokers quit their cigarette addiction. Nicotine gum looks and feels like original gum (tastes much different however), but it has nicotine within it that is released into your body. It is an anti-smoking therapy that helps people to get the dosage of nicotine their body needs, so that they won't resort to smoking cigarettes. It is delivered through the blood stream via absorption by the tissues inside your mouth. Nicotine gum can be bought over the counter in Europe and the United States and comes in flavors such as orange and mint. Each piece of gum contains 2 to 4 mg of nicotine, which is equal to one or two cigarettes. Some of the brands include Nicoderm/Nicorette and Nicotinell.

How To Use Nicotine Gum

When using nicotine gum, you chew it until it is soft. You will then feel a tingling sensation or a peppery taste. The gum should then be placed against your cheek and gums; this is referred to as parking. Once you no longer feel the tingling, you chew the gum again and once again pinch it in between the gums and cheek, but at a different spot in your mouth. This process continues until the nicotine is completely gone, which occurs after about 30 minutes.

In the early 90s, the gums were only sold with a prescription, but today they are available over the counter. The same restrictions apply as tobacco, so you must be of legal age before you can purchase nicotine gum. Some stores locate the gums in the pharmacy section; in this case the purchaser is directed to the pharmacists. Other stores locate the gum on the central shelves or in self checkout lanes.  In Hong Kong, you are required to sign a register with a passport number or Hong Kong ID if purchasing the in doses of four mg or more.

Becoming Addicted to Nicotine Gum

Since nicotine is inside the product, it is very possible for individuals using it to become addicted. There have been studies that show that some people using the gums to quit cigarettes have quit both; while others have given up their addiction for cigarettes for an addiction to the gum. Although this product is safer than smoking cigarettes, long term use can develop into serious health problems. Some people chewing the product will get the urge to dip tobacco in place of lighting up a cigarette.  This is just replacing one dangerous habit for another.

Side effects of the product include hiccups and perceived constriction of the throat muscles; accidental swallowing of saliva that contains large amounts of nicotine can cause irritation. Using the product for a long period of time can lead to inadequate blood flow through your blood vessels within your gums. This can then make them susceptible to gum disease.