NRT – Nicotine Gum

How they work

The nicotine in the gum is released by chewing and then absorbed through the lining of the mouth.

How to choose

Gum is a good way to keep your mouth occupied instead of smoking a cigarette.  It comes in different flavours and in two strengths: 2mg and 4mg.

The 4mg gum is ideal for smokers who are more nicotine dependent and who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day or reach for a cigarette within 30 minutes of getting up.  Otherwise the lower dose should work fine.

How to use them

Chew the gum until the taste becomes strong or hot. After this you can rest the gum inside your cheek – called the “Chew and Park” technique. This is important because nicotine is absorbed through the lining of your mouth and not by swallowing it.

When you first stop smoking you’ll most likely chew about one piece of gum every hour.  Once the taste or heat fades you will need to chew again to release more nicotine. Discard the gum once the taste from chewing has faded.