As nicotine pouches continue to be the hottest trend among teens this year, public health experts are warning of their dangers. 23-year-old Finn told how switching to nicotine pouches damaged his oral health. Leicester graduate Finn used nicotine pouches for three years before switching to vaping. Finn was able to quit both vaping and nicotine pouches eight months ago. Now, unlike Marv, he’s totally nicotine-free and starting to watch his gums heal.
As it turns out, many teens at Finn’s school have moved past vaping and are now using nicotine pouches. At first, Finn went through five pouches each day to replace vaping. They forced him to find structure and discipline in his academic life. He soon encountered severe consequences. “You feel this burning sensation against your gums, and then you get the hit,” Finn explained. His ordeal culminated in an unfortunate scene in which he “peeled half [his] gum off.” Or perhaps it’s because this incident made him stop using the pouches entirely.
Finn’s story is not unique. That’s according to a recent five-year study from the University of Gothenburg. It tries to research the benefits of white snus products compared to traditional tobacco-based alternatives. Dr Gita Gale, the head of the research, voiced her alarm. She is concerned about the increasing popularity of nicotine pouches with adolescents. She finds it “alarming” how many individuals are opting for these products, given the unknown long-term consequences of their use.
Nicotine pouches have taken Sweden by storm—in Sweden, a quarter of 16 to 29-year-olds say they use nicotine pouches. These pouches are nothing less than an odyssey of worldwide exotic tastes. They offer unusual nicotine strengths ranging from 1.5mg to 150mg, thus appealing to a younger demographic. Yet, this allure comes with risks. Dentists all over Sweden have started to notice a growing number of patients who experience painful gum inflammation associated with pouch use.
Dr. Patric Saraby, a dental professional treating patients with severe gum lesions, has observed alarming trends associated with nicotine pouch use. His research shows that these products significantly increase the risk of localized gum disease and bone loss. “The long-term damage of these products is extremely worrying,” Dr. Saraby stated, highlighting the need for further investigation into their effects.
Health advocates such as tobacco harm reduction proponent Harry Tattan-Birch understand that nicotine pouches are a double-edged sword. Tattan-Birch warns that these alternatives are sometimes just as harmful for people working to stop smoking or vaping. Their merits are contingent on wise, judicious application. “If they were used to stop people smoking or vaping, they could have a positive public health effect – but it would only be positive if they were used by those wanting to quit, not those who are trying nicotine for the first time,” he emphasized.
The worry goes beyond older teens and young adults. Kate Pike cautions, “We’ve got kids 11 or 12 years old being able to walk into a store and buy nicotine pouches with no oversight.” “I’ve heard of children as young as 11 or 12 nipping to shops and buying them,” she noted. Pike expressed frustration over the lack of measures to prevent underage access: “It is incredibly frustrating that there is nothing we can currently do to prevent them.”
Pike argues that urgent action is needed to protect our most vulnerable populations, especially young people and minorities, from becoming addicted to these harmful products. “We need to take action against those who either deliberately or uncaringly risk children getting hooked on a highly addictive product,” she stated.
Now as Finn looks back his own journey to freedom, he encourages people to make better choices about nicotine. “My advice? Don’t bother with any of it in the first place. Nicotine traps you,” he cautioned. He recalled moments in class when he struggled to concentrate due to the effects of the pouches: “I’ve sat in class before and had one in my mouth that was so strong I was all over the place.”
