ZYN – Tooth Be Told

When I am talking to my patients about different nicotine products and switching from smoking to a nicotine replacement, pouches are one of the most popular choices. I get asked all the mouth-related questions, including if they can swallow ZYN nicotine pouch spit/saliva. You can swallow your spit/saliva while ZYN nicotine pouches are in your mouth. The ingredients used in ZYN are food-grade and safe to swallow in small quantities as per the manufacturer's instructions. Swallowing saliva while using ZYN is a personal choice. Using ZYN nicotine pouches can help people ween off smoking or vaping, or some people just enjoy using them. Whichever use you use them for, it is important to use them correctly and understand the different risks associated with them. In this post, I delve deeper into swallowing ZYN pouch saliva, the effects swallowing will have on your body and other things you should know, like how they affect your oral health and how to prevent tooth and gum damage. Swallowing Zyn Nicotine saliva; Is it okay? As per the ZYN website, all the ingredients that are used in the nicotine pouches are food-grade and safe in small quantities. https://us.zyn.com/questions/ I had to ask people who use ZYN, as I don't use them myself, to give you the most reliable answer about swallowing ZYN saliva! By asking those who use ZYN, I gathered some pretty interesting information about swallowing saliva while using ZYN pouches. It all comes down to personal preference. Some people like to swallow, and others like to spit. Some people prefer to not swallow their saliva while using nicotine pouches because they simply do not like the taste, or they find they get more of an effect from the nicotine, which one person said makes them run to the bathroom. Whereas other individuals like the taste better when they swallowed their saliva and wanted the increased nicotine. To recap; swallowing nicotine pouch saliva can; Increase nicotine levels absorbedIncrease need to use the bathroom due to increase affect on the sympathetic nervous system Irritate the tissues of the throat As a dental hygienist, it is my duty to speak to my patients about the oral effects of smoking, tobacco and nicotine products. My approach may be different to other dental professionals, as I do not want to scold people for using these products, and try and convince them to quit. There are so many pressures in life, and me putting yet another pressure on them is not what I want to do. Instead, all I want to do is educate my patients on the effects of these products, and tips to improve thier oral health while using them. I always want my dental chair to be a safe place, and I know that can sound cliche, but it is so true. Providing my patients with that safe place allows me to be the best dental hygienist to them. Nicotine pouches oral health side effects; what to look for Microscopic changes in the tissue start to occur right away when using nicotine pouches. As the nicotine is released and comes in contact with the gum tissue, it causes vasoconstriction (tightening of the blood vessels), decreasing healing. Decreased healing in the mouth can lead to gum disease and other soft tissue complications. Like I mentioned earlier in this post, swallowing saliva while using ZYN pouches can increase the amount of nicotine you absorb into your body. Nicotine can increase the clenching and grinding of teeth, which can lead to cracks, chips and broken teeth. If your teeth are becoming chipped/broken or worn down, please contact your dental professional. We want to prevent all of this irreversible damage as much as we can, and your dental professional can give you advice that is 100% tailored to you. You want to look out for any white patches/lesions that don't disappear after 2 weeks. Oral cancer screening is so important to do, and early detection is vital. If your dental professional has not stated they are doing an oral cancer screening, ask them to do one! White patch (leukoplakia) on the underside of the tongue. Do nicotine pouches damage gums? Nicotine pouches damage the gum tissue in our mouth. With the increased usage of nicotine pouches, gum disease, gum recession, white patches (leukoplakia) become more prevalent, as well as tooth decay, bad breath, dry mouth, and bruxism. Nicotine causes vasoconstriction, causing decreased healing. In the post I linked below, you can read all about the effects on the gum tissues, and all the information I discuss with my patients. I touch on irreversible gum disease, gum recession, dry mouth, bad breath, staining and how to prevent this damage from occurring! Read Now: Hygienist Explains: ZYN Nicotine Pouches Bad For Your Gums? Gum recession and localized inflammation of the gum tissue in the red circle. Tips to reduce gum recession while using nicotine pouches Change the location of the pouch so it is not always used in the same spot. Keep your mouth still; talking and moving your mouth will increase rubbing on the gum tissue. An obvious one; reduce the number of pouches you use. Hydrate your mouth and keep it lubricated. You can do this with saliva substitutes, xylitol gums/mints, and drinking water frequently. Maintain your oral hygiene routine to reduce inflammation and gum disease that can cause gum recession. Reducing the bacteria in the mouth is key, that's why I always reccomend using an electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor, and flossing. You can find the best products that I recommend to my patients and use myself here on my adult dental resources page! Preventing damage is the best and cheapest way to maintain your oral health. As dental issues progress and advance into more serious stages, it becomes much more expensive to treat and fix (if it even can be fixed). Talk with your dental professional and don't forget to book a hygiene appointment! Having regular dental hygiene appointments to remove/reduce the harmful biofilm in the mouth will prevent a lot of issues that could arise. I hope I have answered the questions you came looking for! Have a wonderful day, Holly :)