Pressmeddelande -
Impact of Nicotine Pouches on Oral Health: A Growing Concern Among Young Adults in Sweden
In recent years, there has been a noticeable trend among young people to avoid regular dental visits due to oral health problems caused by the use of nicotine pouches and snus. These popular products have been linked to significant issues with the gums and oral mucosa, which can lead to inflammation, irritation, and other complications. The Swedish government’s new dental care reform, which lowers the age limit for free dental care from the current 23 years to 19 years in 2025, may further exacerbate the situation.
Reluctance to Regularly Visit the Dentist Can Lead to Serious Oral Health Problems
A compelling example comes from Åsa, a Swedish young adult, who shared her experience in an email to Stingfree AB:
“My gums have been severely irritated and inflamed for 6 years. The dentist has said that I MUST stop. But unfortunately, I haven’t done that, and instead, I have stopped going to the dentist 😳. But after 4 weeks with your snus, my gums feel significantly better. I might even consider visiting the dentist again. Sure, one might think it would be even better to quit, but since I don’t see that as an option, your invention is absolutely fantastic!”
This reluctance to visit the dentist can lead to serious consequences, including plaque buildup, the development of cavities, and the progression of gum diseases. Regular dental visits are crucial for maintaining oral health, and neglecting them can worsen existing conditions and lead to more severe health problems.
On August 4, 2024, "Vetenskapsradion" (Radio Sweden Science channel) highlighted that “the Swedish government’s new dental care reform, which lowers the age for free dental care from 23 years to 19 years in 2025,”could lead to young snus and nicotine pouch users not being aware of the damage snus causes to the oral mucosa". In the program, senior dentist Pia Skott stated: “If you stop using snus, the oral mucosa heals itself,” but also expressed concern: “we worry that white snus (nicotine pouches) is more harmful than snus.” An ongoing study conducted by Folktandvården Stockholm (The Public Health Dentist organization of Sweden) aims to diagnose potential differences in oral health between young people who use nicotine pouches, traditional snus, and those who do not use snus or nicotine pouches at all. The study is led by senior dentist Lars Fredriksson, and the results are expected to be presented later this year.
Snus and Nicotine Pouch Related Damage is Common
In a clinical dental study by the University of Gothenburg in 2022, 70-90% of the test subjects had snus lesions, and 54-57% had gingival retractions (receding gums). In a clinical Norwegian scientific study in 2023 among 1,363 young adults, men and women aged 20-22 years, the prevalence of oral mucosal changes (snus lesions) was 79.2%. The young adults who participated in the study had used snus for an average of three years, but only 216 (15.8%) reported using snus daily. The Norwegian study indicates that oral health problems begin to show early and affect not only daily users. In a major Stingfree AB 2022 survey with more than 1 000 Swedish snus and nicotine pouch using adult men and women, 67% of the women and 49% expressed worries for their oral health when using this category products.
New Swedish Innovation Regarding Nicotine Pouches and Snus Shows Promising Results
It is not difficult to imagine that when a dental visit goes from being free for young adults to costing money, the risk is high that more young adults will not visit their dentist with the necessary regularity. Interestingly, a new product, Stingfree snus, offers a patent-approved solution with integrated gum protection. The new technology is patent approved in Europe and the United States. This innovation has shown promising results 2024 with 23 participating snus and nicotine pouch using dentists reporting significant improvements in their own oral health when switching to Stingfree pouches for a test period of five weeks. 20 of the 23 dentists now recommend Stingfree nicotine pouches to snus and nicotine pouch using patients suffering from irritated gums and/or snus lesions in the oral mucosa but who cannot or do not want to stop using these oral nicotine products.
Picture 2. Stingfree nicotine pouch and how the Stingfree-technology works. The blue side has an integrated protective biofilm that blocks the pouch content from direct contact with the gum.
Picture 3. Stingfree nicotine pouches. The familiar stinging sensation on the gum when using this category of products is a great deterrent for e.g. smokers to switch to modern oral nicotine pouches. Stingfree pouches reduces the unpleasant burning sensation on the gum.
Relaterade länkar
Ämnen
Kategorier
Regioner
Stingfree AB, is a startup based in Stockholm, Sweden that has developed and patented a new and improved pouch for tobacco-free modern oral nicotine pouches and snus. One side of the pouch has an integrated protection for the gums and oral mucosa. The company is run by founder Bengt Wiberg together with his eldest son, Daniel Wiberg, who is the CEO. The protection effectively reduces the burning sensation and irritation normally caused by these products. The Stingfree technology is patent-approved in the USA and Europe.
Stingfree has 2024 been tested by picotine pouch and snus using professional Swedish dentists with sensational results where participating dentists have improved their oral health. 20 of the 23 participating dentists now recommend Stingfree nicotine pouches to pouch using patients who suffer from snus lesions and/or irritated gums and who are unable or unwilling to quit use.
