Frequently asked questions and answers

Yes it is very common. In an independent dental study published by the University of Gothenburg 2022, the incidence of receding gums (gingival retraction) for snus users between 54 and 57%.

A Norwegian study of Norwegian snus users conducted in 2023 found that 79% of participants had snuff lesions.

In a survey of over 1,000 snus-using men and women in Sweden conducted by Stingfree AB in 2022, 59% of the participants responded that they had experienced snus lesions. 51% responded that they had receding gums (gingival retractions).

Prolonged use of snus can cause the gums to recede. This can create a “pocket” in the gums at the site of the snus. Bacteria can accumulate in these ”pockets”, which can lead to bad breath and tooth decay, among other things.

As the gums recede, more of the neck of the tooth is exposed, which can lead to irritation and increase the risk of cavities on this part of the tooth. In extreme cases, gum recession can result in tooth loss.

No, it can't. The gums or gingiva, as dentists call them, are different from other tissues in that they cannot be regenerated if they are too damaged. In some cases, gums can be restored through dental surgery, the most common method being to transplant tissue from the palate to the gums.

No, they don't. No other country in the world has such a high proportion of snus users in the population as Sweden. Despite this, there is no increased incidence of oral cancer or cancer-related mortality linked to snus use in Sweden. This is stated, for example, in a large study on snus and oral cancer from Karolinska Institutet. This study even finds that using four cans of snus or less per week reduces the risk of oral cancer.

Smoking, on the other hand, dramatically increases the risk of various types of cancer, including oral cancer. It is mainly when tobacco is ignited and inhaled as smoke that it strongly contributes to the increased risk of oral cancer.

No, we do not think so! But to find out what other snus users think, we conducted a large survey of Swedish snus users in 2022. Over 1,000 people completed the survey. 66.5% of the women and 54.3% of the men answered that they experienced the burning as unpleasant.

The content of virtually all types of snus and nicotine portions have pH values that are higher than what is naturally found in the mouth, which is about 7-7.5. The reason why the pH values need to be so high is that there is a direct correlation between the pH value and how easily the nicotine can be absorbed by the oral mucosa. The higher the pH, the greater/quicker the nicotine release. Materials with high pH values that are in direct contact with the gums cause burning and irritation to the gums.

Another major parameter for what causes burning and irritation of the gums is the flavorings and how high concentrations of these are used in prills. Flavors such as mint, citrus, chili, etc. and even salts can cause burning and irritation of the gums regardless of what the pH value is.

This means that if you want both a strong nicotine and flavor experience without burning and causing gum irritation, you need a barrier between your gums and the contents of the prills. That's why we have developed our patented PROTEX barrier.