How to Quit Smoking Using Gum

Using nicotine chewing gum is a popular way to curb cigarette smoking. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that cigarette smoking causes one in every five deaths each year. Cigarette smoking is a dangerous habit that increases risk of cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, aneurysms, emphysema and other serious illnesses. Using nicotine gum helps people quit smoking by eliminating behavioral and psychological triggers that cause them to smoke. However, you must later reduce your nicotine gum use to fully achieve freedom from nicotine addiction.

Things You'll Need

• Nicotine gum

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Instructions

• 1

  Make a commitment to quit smoking. People who are unsure about quitting often return to smoking after several days or weeks.

• 2

  Consult your doctor about your decision to quit smoking. Inform your physician about any medications you are taking, prescription and over-the-counter, to ensure they won't react adversely with the nicotine gum. Ask what dose of nicotine gum is most appropriate for your level of cigarette smoking. Nicotine gum typically comes in 2 or 4 mg doses.

• 3

  Purchase nicotine chewing gum. Research brands to determine price, ingredients and safety information. Ensure that you are not allergic to any ingredients in the nicotine gum you choose.

• 4

  Place a piece of nicotine gum in your mouth. Chew it slowly, 10 to 12 times, until you get a spicy taste or tingling sensation in your mouth.

• 5

  Place the gum between your cheek and gum to allow more nicotine to release. Begin chewing again about one minute later, when the tingly feeling subsides. Continue chewing and resting the gum for about 30 minutes. Throw the gum away when you've finished chewing it--do not swallow it.

• 6

  Chew a new piece of nicotine gum whenever you feel the urge to smoke. Do not chew more than 30 pieces of 2-mg gum per day, or more than 24 pieces of 4-mg gum a day. Never eat or drink within 15 minutes of chewing a piece of nicotine gum.

• 7

  Reduce the number of times you chew nicotine gum by one piece every four days to start weaning yourself of the gum. Substitute sugarless chewing gum for nicotine gum to get the relief of chewing on something.

• 8

  Wean yourself off of nicotine gum over a three month period. Avoid cigarette smoking triggers, such as alcohol use, coffee, particular friends or social situations in which you typically smoke.