How Does Dipping Tobacco Work?

You may be already familiar with the taste and scent of tobacco, especially if you’ve been smoking cigarettes or cigars before. But if you’ve finally decided to switch to smokeless tobacco options, you are definitely in for a treat since the market for such products continues to exist today.

Many types of smokeless tobacco products are being sold by many specialty tobacco shops all over the world, especially in countries that still permit the sale and consumption of such products. One type of smokeless tobacco you may have heard before is dipping tobacco. If you’re curious about how to consume it, then you are definitely in the right place.

This helpful guide by NativeSmokes4Less aims to give you a brief background of dipping tobacco, as well as how to consume it properly. As you read along, you’ll also get to know how dipping tobacco and its associated content affects your body.

How Does Dipping Tobacco Work Exactly?

When you opt for dipping tobacco, you are now part of the millions of smokeless tobacco users around the world. Surprisingly, even with the popularity of cigarette smoking and the proliferation of vaping products and nicotine pouches, smokeless tobacco consumption remains a thing in the modern world.

One possible reason behind the continuous use of smokeless tobacco is that many tobacco users still cling to the natural hits provided by tobacco products. Smokeless tobacco, after all, contains tobacco leaves, which are known to produce nicotine once chewed, sniffed, or left in the mouth. They then give off a rich, earthy scent and taste that are impossible to mimic with artificial tobacco flavourings.

Then there’s social influence. Many tobacco enthusiasts cling to the influence of peers and colleagues who may be using tobacco products. A number of people still rely on tobacco products as a way to socialize and avoid feeling left out, especially during gatherings and hangouts.

As mentioned earlier, one of the smokeless tobacco products that is still popular nowadays is dipping tobacco. Essentially, dipping tobacco is a type of moistened smokeless tobacco that is often placed in the mouth. Unlike chewing tobacco, it doesn’t require any chewing. Instead, a dip or pinch of tobacco is placed between the gum and the lip and let it stay there for as long as you like.

To help you understand dipping tobacco better, here are some things that should be done when consuming this beloved smokeless tobacco product.

Take a Pinch of Tobacco

The first thing that must be done in consuming dipping tobacco is to take a pinch.

Essentially, you must reach your thumb and forefinger into the tin or pouch where the dipping tobacco is placed. Then, take a small amount of the tobacco between your thumb and forefinger, probably about the size of a quarter. You can then increase the amount of tobacco you will be dipping as you get used to the taste and strength of the said product.

Additionally, you can change the amount of tobacco you will be consuming depending on how long you will be dipping it as well as how strong of a nicotine dose you are craving.

If you decide to consume plug tobacco instead of moist snuff and loose-leaf tobacco, then you must break off a piece of the said product according to your liking.

Place Between Your Gum and Cheek

Once you’re done pinching an amount of tobacco from the tin or container, you must place it in your mouth, particularly between your gum and cheek.

It’s highly recommended to place the dipping tobacco on the lower lip to not only elevate your nicotine consumption experience but to keep everything in place. You don’t want the tobacco to fall off from your upper lip and swallow some of it. Swallowing tobacco products accidentally may only lead to digestive issues, which you don’t want to experience. Other health risks like nicotine poisoning may also develop if you constantly swallow tobacco elements.

But since you’ll be placing the dipping tobacco in your lower lip, you should expect more tobacco juices from developing and accumulating in your mouth. The stimulated saliva production, fortunately, helps you absorb nicotine and flavours from the tobacco more effectively. You can likewise absorb more nicotine and chemicals from the tobacco faster since your lower lip’s inner lining has a rich blood supply.

Let the Tobacco Sit In Your Mouth

After placing the dipping tobacco between your gum and cheek, it’s time to let it sit in your mouth.

Chewing tobacco products often requires you to chew them constantly so they can release your much-needed nicotine and flavours. Cigarettes then need to be lighted up and puffed every now and then to also attain their nicotine content.

Dipping tobacco doesn’t require any of these things. The only thing you need to do is to park the leaves between your lower lip and the gum and you’re good to go. You can even leave them there for a long time and wholeheartedly savour their nicotine and tobacco-rich flavours.

Even from a pinch of dipping tobacco, you can easily get several hours’ worth of nicotine, which helps soothe your senses and body for a longer time. Now, if the tobacco in your mouth gets loose, all you have to do is use your finger or tongue to gently press it back into place.

Spit as Necessary

As discussed earlier, dipping tobacco is best placed in the lower lip due to the elevated production of saliva. Saliva, when mixed with tobacco juices, makes dipping tobacco consumption better since it enhances the amount of nicotine and flavours you get from the tobacco products.

The juice that the tobacco products will form, however, shouldn’t be swallowed. It is meant to be spit out. If you are outside, you don’t often have a choice but to spit into the ground. It can be really messy, which is why it is generally recommended to only dip tobacco indoors.

When you consume dipping tobacco indoors, you can keep an empty bottle close to you so you can spit the juice into it. As you use a spit bottle, you should close it with a cap when you set it down to avoid spilling the tobacco spit if ever you accidentally knock it over.

Throw Out the Tobacco

The last thing you should do is throw out the used tobacco.

When is the best time to discard the tobacco? If you don’t feel any nicotine anymore or you need to do something that requires a clean mouth, then you must take the dipping tobacco out of your mouth. 

To remove the tobacco from your mouth, you should grab it with your hand, pull it out, and throw it away. If you’re near a garbage can, you can simply spit out the tobacco. Always remember to dispose of your tobacco properly to avoid generating any mess in your surroundings. Additionally, you shouldn’t reuse any tobacco as it is unhygienic and may only cause health issues.

Once you spit your dip out, you should rinse your mouth with water to get rid of any excess tobacco elements. Avoid using your spit bottle for rinsing as well as swallowing the water you rinse with.

All these steps should be done properly to help you consume dipping tobacco without expecting any issues to your health. Proper consumption of dipping tobacco also ensures that you get to enjoy the nicotine and flavour it provides as well as help the surroundings to be free from any tobacco mess.

NativeSmokes4Less offers dipping tobacco products from a wide range of brands, allowing you to consume tobacco without needing to release smoke into the surroundings. Get yours today and enjoy the nicotine from consuming oral tobacco products.

How Does Dipping Tobacco Work in the Body?

At this point, you might want to know how dipping tobacco works in your body.

If you will be placing the dipping tobacco in the lower lip, you can expect the nicotine and all other tobacco elements to be sent into your bloodstream more effectively since this part of the mouth has a rich blood supply. This allows for the rapid absorption of tobacco chemicals, including nicotine.

Once absorbed by your body, the nicotine from tobacco enters capillaries and larger blood vessels, allowing the substance to move inside your body through venous circulation. The nicotine-rich blood then flows to the heart and is then pumped into your brain via the carotid arteries.

In just 5 minutes or so, the substance reaches the reward system of the brain, triggering the release of dopamine. You’ll then feel pleasure and become more alert. Your heart rate and blood pressure may then be elevated as nicotine also stimulates the release of adrenaline.

As the brain adapts to the presence of nicotine, it will only lead to tolerance and addiction to the substance, pushing you to use dipping tobacco more frequently.

So, what makes nicotine addicting?

Once you place tobacco elements in your mouth, they gradually release nicotine, which is a substance that tobacco naturally produces. Nicotine is a stimulant that can cause a sense of well-being and relaxation. The effects of nicotine from the tobacco, however, are short-lived. 

This is one of the main reasons why many tobacco users continuously consume tobacco products as they help in maintaining the calm, soothing sensation of the said stimulant. Without nicotine in their bodies, they end up facing withdrawal symptoms, which can be difficult to deal with. 

Hence, those who want to quit smoking end up relying on smokeless tobacco products as their new source of nicotine. Similar to those who want to quit smokeless tobacco consumption but end up using alternative nicotine delivery systems like nicotine pouches.

But aside from nicotine addiction and dependence, dipping tobacco may also pose harmful health effects to your body when used for a long time. Tobacco, as a whole, has been linked to many serious illnesses like oral cancer, esophagus cancer, pancreatic cancer, and coronary heart disease. It can even produce negative reproductive effects like stillbirth, premature birth, and low birth weight.

Even though dipping tobacco doesn’t require smoking and combustion, the number of health issues related to it can still be deemed fatal. So, like smoking cigarettes, using dipping tobacco may only put you at risk of getting sick, especially when done regularly. 

If you decide to push through with dipping tobacco, there are a couple of things you must remember:

• Start small: If you’re new to the world of smokeless tobacco, you must always start with small pinches of tobacco. You should do this to avoid experiencing nausea or dizziness, which often happens to those who take large amounts of tobacco on their first dip. At this point, you need to test your own nicotine tolerance first.
• Lower expectations: When switching from cigarettes or other combustible tobacco products, you should lower your expectations, especially if you’re used to taking in huge hits of nicotine. You won’t essentially get an intense rush from smokeless tobacco since the nicotine from such products is absorbed by your body differently. Just relax and let the dipping tobacco do everything for you.
• Rehydrate when needed: Sometimes, your dipping tobacco may dry out mid-use. Don’t worry as you only need to rehydrate it by placing the tobacco under your tongue. You don’t need to drink any liquids as it may only add too much moisture, making the placement tougher in your mouth. It can also make the spit to be a lot messier. Saliva is already enough for your tobacco.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does dipping tobacco work?

Dipping tobacco works by placing it between the gum and the lower lip. This way, the nicotine from the tobacco can be absorbed directly through the oral tissues and away from the lungs. Compared to cigarette smoking, the effects of nicotine tend to last longer.

How does dipping tobacco work in the body?

Once placed in the mouth, dipping tobacco releases nicotine, which then enters the bloodstream through the mucous membranes, skipping the lungs entirely. The stimulant then enters the brain, triggering the release of dopamine and adrenaline. They are meant to elevate the feelings of pleasure, alertness, heart rate, and blood pressure. 

Summary

Dipping tobacco works optimally if you are consuming it the right way. When dipping tobacco, make sure to place it between your lower lip and the gum. Let it stay there for a while until you gradually feel the nicotine hitting your bloodstream. Occasionally, you have to spit the tobacco juices that may accumulate while the dipping tobacco is parked in your mouth. Once done, you can remove the tobacco leaves from your mouth and throw them in the trash.

Many believe that dipping tobacco is better than cigarette smoking. And while dipping tobacco doesn’t generate any cancer-causing chemicals often present in tobacco smoke, it may still pose some harm to your health due to the presence of nicotine. Additionally, the National Cancer Institute links smokeless tobacco products to numerous types of oral cancer. 

Given the health risks associated with dipping tobacco, you may want to opt for nicotine replacement therapy if you want to consume nicotine and eventually get rid of tobacco addiction. You can then opt for nicotine pouches, a new oral nicotine product that has become popular among tobacco users.