Oral Nicotine Pouches: Health Effects and Patient Education

This course prepares oral health care professionals to review current scientific evidence-based literature on how oral nicotine pouches impact oral health, oral disease and systemic health, to ensure this information is effectively communicated and disseminated to patients through patient education. This course reviews oral nicotine pouches (ONPs) features, Federal Drug Administration regulations, nicotine correlation to brain development, and nicotine replacement therapy. The course reviews dental caries, oral mucosa, periodontal conditions/alveolar bone destruction, stain, gastrointestinal, risk of cancer in correlation to ONPs usages. Finally, the course highlights the oral health care provider’s professional role in addressing this new public health trend of ONPs usage in our youth and young adults. As nicotine products become increasingly prevalent among adolescents and young adults globally, oral health care professionals must be prepared to address these emerging current health trends. Oral nicotine pouches are deemed a rising detrimental public health concern, promoting dual tobacco usage within our youth. ONPs are heavily promoted on social media, intentionally targeting younger audiences and capturing significant interest. Dental professionals can collaborate with public health workers, pediatricians, educators, and smoking cessation specialists to create educational programs aimed at preventing the use of nicotine pouches and other products among adolescents.