A well-known side effect of any tobacco product is the smell that permeates and sticks to everything in your surroundings. Smokers’ breath often smells bad, making social interactions more difficult, especially when speaking to people who dislike the smell of smoke. 

While products like ZYN nicotine pouches help you get rid of the smell of smoke, the question remains—does ZYN cause bad breath?

Although they’re the safest and cleanest nicotine product, ZYN pouches still contain nicotine, which might affect oral health to a degree. In this article, we’ll examine how ZYN pouches affect your breath and answer the following questions:

  • Do ZYNs make your breath smell bad?
  • Can ZYN ingredients affect your oral health?
  • What causes bad breath?

Do ZYNs Make Your Breath Smell Bad?

Some users have reported experiencing bad breath while using ZYNs, especially in the morning, but there is no real evidence connecting the use of ZYNs with bad breath. 

ZYN and other nicotine pouches don’t contain tobacco, only pharmaceutical-grade nicotine. This means that while it’s still possible for ZYNs to affect your breath, it won’t be to the same extent as tobacco-containing products.

One factor to keep in mind when talking about ZYNs is the immediate effect on your breath. ZYNs come in flavors like spearmint and peppermint. In other words, ZYN nicotine pouches might actually help make your breath a bit fresher.

That said, since nicotine pouches like ZYNs are new to the market, there is not yet definitive research on their effect on oral and overall health in the long run.

Source: Artem Podrez

Can ZYN Ingredients Affect Your Oral Health?

Nicotine isn’t the only thing found in ZYN pouches—they also contain several other food-grade ingredients. These ingredients are mostly there to make sure that the ZYN experience is as pleasurable as possible, but what about the effects they have on your breath?

To answer this question, you first have to look at the ingredient list:

IngredientWhat Do They Do?Effect on Oral Health
SweetenersAdds sweetness without sugarNone
FillersAdd bulk and texturePositive—can benefit enamel
pH balancersHelp maintain pH level in the mouthNone
StabilizersMaintain consistent textureNone
FlavoringsGive flavorNone
Granulation agentHelps bind ingredients togetherNone

As the table shows, most ingredients found in ZYN pouches have a neutral effect on your oral health, except for fillers, which can sometimes positively impact the health of your teeth. Out of the whole list, the most notable three are:

  1. Sweeteners
  2. Fillers
  3. pH balancers

Sweeteners

ZYN pouches don’t contain sugar, which is one of the main culprits behind the development of cavities.

Artificial sweeteners, unlike sugar, don’t directly contribute to tooth decay because they don’t feed the harmful bacteria in your mouth that produce acids and cause cavities. In fact, you’re far more likely to damage your enamel and develop cavities by drinking sodas and energy drinks than by using ZYN pouches.

Fillers

Two fillers used in ZYN are known to have a positive effect on oral health: gum arabic and microcrystalline cellulose. 

Gum arabic contains large amounts of calcium, which might strengthen the enamel, and microcrystalline cellulose is commonly used in toothpaste as a mild abrasive that helps remove stains from teeth.

pH Stabilizers

A pH imbalance can greatly contribute to the deterioration of oral health and bad breath. At a pH value below 5.5, the enamel on your teeth slowly starts to dissolve, making cavities more likely to occur and causing your breath to smell sour. 

ZYN pouches sit in the neutral 6-9 pH range, meaning they shouldn’t cause any issues. In fact, sodium bicarbonate—one of the main stabilizers used in ZYN pouches—is used by some toothpaste brands to help increase your pH value and strengthen the teeth.

What Can Cause Bad Breath?

Bad breath, medically known as halitosis, causes a bad smell to come out of your mouth. This condition is relatively common in smokers and consumers of other nicotine products. It can be caused by several oral health issues, such as:

  • Dry mouth
  • Gingivitis
  • Gum recession

Source: Maurício Mascaro

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is a condition in which the salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva to keep the mouth moist. 

Saliva helps keep your mouth clean by flushing away any leftover food particles and bacteria that may appear. If there’s not enough saliva to do this, the built-up food and bacteria start to break down, producing an awful smell. If not treated, this can lead to further oral issues.

Nicotine has diuretic properties, which contribute to dehydration and can lead to dry mouth. Because of this, all nicotine products, including ZYN nicopods, can cause dry mouth. This can usually be resolved by increasing your water intake.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the earliest form of gum disease. It’s developed when plaque, tartar, and bacteria build up on teeth. This leads to inflammation of the gums, which, if left untreated, can lead to more serious issues such as tooth loss.

Once inflamed, the gums are much more tender and bleed more easily, making it more difficult to clean your mouth. This can easily lead to more leftover food on and between your teeth, especially near the gum line, which would then become a breeding ground for bacteria. That bacteria breaks down the food and releases a foul, sulfurous stench.

Gum Recession

Gum recession is a form of gum disease that causes the gums to pull away from the teeth. The gums and now exposed roots are very sensitive and an ideal environment for bacteria to flourish in. 

Receding gums also make it much easier for the infection to spread to the roots of your teeth, which can cause much worse issues than bad breath, like caries, tooth loss, and jaw bone loss. What’s worse is that damage caused by gum recession can’t be reversed.

While there’s suspicion that long-term use of ZYN—and other nicotine pouches—may lead to gum recession, there’s no ironclad evidence suggesting that it will happen.

Source: Pavel Danilyuk

How To Prevent Bad Breath While Using ZYN?

ZYN pouches alone shouldn’t cause your breath to smell bad, but using them may heighten the possibility. This is especially true if you have any underlying oral health issues that may be made worse by using nicotine products. 

Fortunately, since ZYN pouches don’t contain tobacco—only nicotine—the precautions you need to take aren’t overbearing, as long as you keep a few things in mind:

  1. Practice good oral care
  2. Use your ZYN pouches properly
  3. Make sure you’re using high-quality pouches

Practice Good Oral Care

Good oral care lowers the odds of developing oral health issues while using nicotine pouches. All you should do to keep your oral health in good shape is:

  • Brushing your teeth twice a day: Brushing in the morning and evening prevents bacterial build-up on the teeth
  • Flossing five times a week: Regular flossing will prevent bacteria from building up between your teeth
  • Drinking water: Nicotine can reduce saliva production, so drinking water regularly can help you prevent dry mouth 
  • Visiting your dentist regularly: Regular visits to the dentist can help you nip any budding oral health issues in the bud

Use Your ZYN Pouches Properly

Many oral health problems associated with ZYN use arise from improper use. Although using ZYN pouches may be straightforward, keeping a few things in mind can help you lower the risk of bad breath even further.

Here are some of the things you need to keep in mind when using ZYN pouches:

  1. Switch sides: By regularly switching sides when putting in the ZYN pouch, you lower the odds of gum irritation
  2. Wait between pouch uses: You should wait about two hours between pouch uses
  3. Choose the correct strength: Not everyone requires the same amount of nicotine. Knowing which strength is right for you is half the battle. Luckily, ZYN comes in many strengths to choose from
  4. Don’t reuse pouches: Once wet, the pouch starts to release nicotine and flavor, and there’s no benefit to putting it in a second time. Once they’re taken out of your mouth, wet pouches become a hotbed for bacterial growth no matter where you keep them

Make Sure You’re Using High-Quality Pouches

There is a world of difference between high-quality nicotine pouches and their lower-quality counterparts. 

Due to limitations imposed by the FDA on nicotine pouch development in 2016, their EU counterparts gained a clear advantage in this field. Because EU-based nicopod makers have been given the freedom to refine and improve their recipes, their products offer a more intense flavor and a longer-lasting buzz.

When talking about quality, you should also think about how fresh the ZYNs you’re using are. While they do have a long shelf life, it’s limited. ZYN pouches don’t expire like a food item does, so you won’t be able to tell just by looking at them. The telltale sign of a pouch that has gone off is a much weaker kick and bland taste, which might be something you encounter if you don’t buy pouches from reputable sellers.

Source: SnusBoss 

Buy From a Trusted Seller—SnusBoss

The best way to make sure that the pouches you’re buying are first-rate and fresh is to buy from a reputable website like SnusBoss.

By buying from SnusBoss, you are putting your trust in experts who source and distribute their pouches from the EU. They offer high-quality products that are guaranteed to be fresh, have a strong flavor, and offer a nicotine kick every time you use them.

Ordering from SnusBoss is a simple three-step process:

  1. Go to the online store
  2. Choose your favorite ZYN flavor and strength
  3. Put in your shipping and payment information

Opt for the express shipping option and have your pouches on your doorstep within 2–3 business days. When buying from SnusBoss, you also get advantages such as:

  • Free shipping on all orders above $249
  • Competitive prices and bulk discounts
  • Regular discounts and promotions 

Looking for Something Stronger? Take a Look at Other SnusBoss Offers

Although ZYN offers a wide range of flavors and strengths, expanding your horizons can help you pick what suits you best. You don’t have to look far, though, since SnusBoss has high-quality and delicious offers from the following EU brands:

PabloGlitchPazRogerDope
HitSiberiaThorChapoJäger
SnatchGOATKickKurwaKilla
White FoxKlintOryx Kozmo

Keep in mind that you have to be at least 21 years old to legally purchase and use nicotine pouches.

  • Product bundle

    $57.47
    Range Price
    10 - 19 $0.00
    20 - 29 $0.00
    30 + $0.00

Featured image source: kreatikar