Snus is less harsh than regular chewing tobacco. However, keep in mind that it can still contribute to oral cancers. Loose snus is the same product that is inside snus pouches. It can be messier since it is not packed neatly inside a pouch, but it also gives you more control over portion sizes. Loose snus comes in different strengths. If you are trying to quit nicotine, then choose a weaker variety so you don’t increase your body’s nicotine addiction.
This will make it much easier to remove a compacted portion of snus from the tin. Make sure that the lid is on tightly before you do this so it doesn’t accidentally come off when you knock it against something.
You can pack and roll the snus between your fingers after you remove it from the tin to compact it and make it less messy if you prefer.
If you don’t mind the flavor, then you can use your tongue to help pack it in. However, this is not recommended because swallowing the snus can make you feel sick. You can put snus in your lower lip, but it is not recommended because it tends to generate more saliva which causes you to spit more.
When you are done with the snus, grab it between your thumb and index finger again and dispose of it in a trash can. If at any point you start feeling nauseous, remove the snus and dispose of it. This is common for users who are new to snus or don’t have a high nicotine tolerance. A portion of loose snus can last up to an hour before it totally loses its effects and flavor. The length of time the effects last depends on the size of the portion, its strength, and your nicotine tolerance.
This is only necessary if you want to store your loose snus for more than a week. If you plan to use a tin of snus in a week or less, then you can keep it in a cool, dry place. Recycle empty tins of snus.
There are American-made versions of snus, but they are less-regulated than the Swedish variety and may contain more carcinogens. Strength labels are Normal, Stark, & Extra Stark. Normal contains the least amount of nicotine. If you are trying to quit nicotine, then go with a weaker variety. Snus also comes in three different pouch sizes: Mini, Normal/Large (most common) and Maxi. Bigger pouches contain a bigger portion of snus, hence more nicotine, so if you are trying to quit nicotine then choose smaller pouch sizes. You can also choose a size that is more comfortable in your mouth.
Since it is already packed into little pouches, you don’t have to shake the tin to “pack” the snus as you would with loose varieties. If you want, you can roll the pouch between your fingers to loosen the tobacco up before you put it in your mouth.
You can also simply put the snus pouch on your tongue and use your tongue to slide the pouch up between your upper lip and gums. You may find it is most comfortable to place the pouch off to the side between your upper lip and gums, rather than in the middle, but do whatever is most comfortable for you. It’s possible to put snus in your lower lip, but this will make you salivate more and you may need to spit. Snus is designed to be spit-free, so it’s recommended to put it in your upper lip.
Unlike other types of oral tobacco products, it’s not necessary to spit while using snus. Snus is a variety of “wet snuff. " It is composed of about 30 percent tobacco and 70 percent water and flavoring. Because of the existence of salt and flavoring, it promotes less saliva than other smokeless tobaccos. If you’re an inexperienced tobacco user, you may start to feel a strong head-rush, some nausea, and may even need to vomit. This is a normal nicotine response. Remove the packet if it starts nauseating you. Always dispose of used snus in a trash can. Don’t litter by tossing it out elsewhere.
This is only necessary if you want to store snus longer than a week. If you go through a tin of snus in a week or less, then you can just store it in a cool, dry place when you aren’t using it. When you finish a tin of snus, recycle it.
