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Nicotine gum gives you a dose of nicotine as you chew. It also gives your mouth something to do instead of smoking, which can help you break the habit.
This is a fast-acting form of NRT that can be used in combination with nicotine patches.
Choosing the correct strength of nicotine gum
You can get nicotine gum in 2 different strengths:
- 4mg strength - use this if you smoke your first cigarette within 30 minutes of waking and smoke more than 20 a day
- 2mg strength - use this if your first cigarette is 30 minutes or more after waking and you smoke fewer than 20 a day
How to use nicotine gum
Chew the gum slowly until the taste becomes strong or hot, then rest it between your cheek and gums. This allows nicotine to be absorbed into your bloodstream.
When the taste fades, chew and rest the gum again when the taste is strong. Keep doing this until there's no longer a taste after you chew. A piece of gum lasts around 30 minutes.
Use the gum as often as you need to, up to 15 pieces a day.
After 3 months
After 3 months, gradually reduce using nicotine gum. You could reduce the length of time you chew each piece or the number of times you chew each day.
You could cut the gum into smaller pieces. You could also swap it for an ordinary sugar-free gum then stop using the nicotine gum completely.
If you’re finding it hard to stop using the gum, talk to your stop smoking advisor, pharmacist or GP. You can also call the Quitline for advice on 1800 201 203.
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