Guide

How to Use a Nicotine Pouch

Place a nicotine pouch under your upper lip, leave it for up to an hour, then remove and bin it. Here is how to use one, how long to leave it, and what to expect.

Put the pouch between your top lip and gum, leave it there for anywhere up to an hour, then take it out and bin it. You do not chew it and you do not spit. Here is the full how-to and what to expect.

Step by step

Take one pouch out of the tin. Place it between your upper lip and your gum, off to one side. Press it into place with your tongue and leave it. You do not chew it or move it around. It sits still and does the work on its own.

For the first minute or two you will feel a tingle and a little warmth where the pouch sits. That is normal and it settles down. When you are done, take the pouch out and put it in the bin. Most tins have a small compartment in the lid for used pouches if you are not near one.

How long to leave it in

Anywhere from five minutes to about an hour. The flavour and the nicotine are strongest early on and fade as you go. Take it out when the tingle has gone or whenever you have had enough. Leaving it in longer than an hour does little, since most of the nicotine has already gone by then.

What strength to start with

Pouches come in a range of strengths. If you are new to them, start with a lower one and see how it feels before going stronger. The number on the tin is the nicotine content, and UK pouches run up to around 20mg.

The dos and don'ts

Use one at a time rather than stacking several. Do not chew or swallow the pouch. A little extra saliva is normal and fine to swallow, but the pouch itself stays put and then goes in the bin, not down the toilet. Nicotine pouches are for adults only, and an 18 and over age of sale now applies.

How a melt differs

A melt is oral nicotine too, but you use it differently. There is no pouch to position under your lip and nothing to take out. A melt dissolves in your mouth on its own and leaves nothing behind. You can read how the two compare in our nicotine melt vs nicotine pouch guide.

FAQ

How long do you leave a nicotine pouch in?

Anywhere up to an hour. Take it out when the tingle fades or when you have had enough.

Do you chew a nicotine pouch?

No. It sits still between your lip and gum. Chewing it is not how it works.

Can you swallow the saliva?

Yes, the extra saliva is fine. Do not swallow the pouch itself.

Where do used pouches go?

In the bin. Many tins have a top compartment to hold them until you can.