Snus long-term effects: This is what users adjust to

Snus has a long tradition in the Scandinavian region and is becoming increasingly popular in other countries as well. Snus refers to tobacco-containing or tobacco-free pouches that are placed under the upper lip during use, releasing nicotine. There is less knowledge about the long-term effects of snus compared to cigarettes, as the number of snus users is lower than that of smokers.

We want to take a look at the long-term effects of snus and find out what impact snus has on health based on the current state of research. Additionally, we explain how snus compares to cigarettes.

Long-term effects of snus: What health damages are possible?

Snus is often promoted as a sensible cigarette substitute, but what about the real long-term damage? Snus contains similar substances to cigarettes: mainly tobacco and therefore nicotine. The difference lies in the method of use, because unlike cigarettes, snus is not lit and burned; instead, the nicotine is absorbed through the mucous membranes. This difference is the main reason why tobacco snus is about 95% and tobacco-free snus about 98% less harmful than cigarettes, since the majority of harmful substances in cigarettes are produced during the combustion process.

Effects on oral health

When looking more closely at the health effects of snus, it becomes clear that these mainly relate to the mouth area. Snus can negatively affect dental health and cause gum irritation. In the worst case, users may develop periodontitis, especially with poor oral hygiene. Lesions of the oral mucosa are also possible, which can heal again over time.

Other effects

Snus is also often mentioned in connection with mouth, esophageal, and pancreatic cancer. Although studies on this topic have been conducted, they have all reached different conclusions. A study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Public Health found no link between increased cancer risk and snus use. However, a clue is provided by the long-term cancer rates in the Swedish population, which has used snus for centuries and hardly any cigarettes: Sweden has the lowest lung cancer rate worldwide, while mouth cancer rates are not higher than those of other industrialized countries.

Reasons for the differing results on the long-term effects of snus

One reason for the contradictory conclusions is the ingredients of snus, which vary by country. For example, in North America, products are enriched with nitrosamines, a substance considered carcinogenic.

In Sweden, however, the use of nitrosamines is banned by the food authority and therefore does not appear in any products. As a result, the cancer risk is significantly lower with snus from the Scandinavian region. By the way, at Snushus we do not import a single product from North America, only snus made in the Swedish style.

Long-term damage from snus compared to cigarettes

Since no combustion process occurs with snus, it remains a good alternative to smoking. In Sweden, snus use is already more widespread than cigarette use, and the number of people suffering from lung cancer is lower than in other countries.

This is also confirmed by a 2019 study published in the Harm Reduction Journal. The study shows that snus use is associated with fewer risks than smoking. The rates of lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases in Sweden have decreased significantly. For Switzerland, these results were reason enough to legalize the sale of snus in 2019.

Snus products without tobacco

Nowadays, there are even snus products on the market that are completely free of tobacco. These products do contain nicotine, but it is added in the form of nicotine salt or liquid. They are called All White snus.

The best-known brands include VELO and edelsnus. The brand edelsnus also released a product that contains neither tobacco nor nicotine. Edel CBD Mint is therefore ideal for people who want to try snus completely risk-free.

Conclusion

When looking more closely at the long-term effects of snus and cigarettes, it becomes clear that snus performs better because the product is not lit during use. Long-term effects such as mouth cancer have not yet been directly linked to snus. With proper oral hygiene, gum recession can be reduced and the risk of periodontitis lowered.