When it comes to quitting smoking, one of the most frequently used ways to ease the problems of withdrawal is nicotine gum. The gum is said to help quell cravings, allowing the smoker to adjust to a cigarette-free life without the long running associated problems.

Nicotine gum contains a nicotine compared called nicotine polacrilex, which is said to have a potent effect on any cravings. Nicotine gum, however, should not be chewed like normal chewing gum – there is a specifically designed way of using it, which should increase it’s effectiveness. Each piece of nicotine gum should last for half an hour. To achieve this, chew the gum thoroughly until the taste of the nicotine compound is strong in your mouth. When it is, put the gum against your cheek and desist chewing it. When the strong taste has dissapated, start chewing again to release another wave of flavour. Repeat this until there is no taste left in the gum.

The manufacturers of nicotine gum suggest that it should only be used when a craving strikes, though many smokers in the process of quitting prefer to use it as a preventative. The choice on this is yours, but it is suggested that by limiting the use of nicotine gum to just when particularly severe cravings strike, it has a better change of succeeding.

The strength of gum you select depends on how many cigarettes you usually smoke in a day. For anything under 10 cigarettes per day, gum containing 2mg of nicotine polacrilex should be sufficient. For up to 20 cigarettes a day, use 4mg gum, while reserving 6mg for anyone who usually smokes over 20 cigarettes a day.

Nicotine gum cannot fully remove cravings. The best it can do is reduce the intense discomfort associated with smoking cessation, the theory being that by easing the worst of any craving, willpower should do the rest. It is important to have realistic expectations of nicotine gum; it never can fully replace the desire to smoke, but should be viewed more as a willpower aid than a full cigarette replacement. However, nicotine gum when used correctly can be incredibly effective and significantly improves your chances of stopping smoking for good. For this reason alone, it is worth a try.

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