Update 4:29pm CT, June 20: In an email to the Daily Dot, a Zyn representative shared the following statement:
“ZYN is designed and marketed for existing adult smokers and nicotine users aged 21 and older as a better alternative to continued smoking, as backed by extensive scientific data.”
The representative also clarified that Zyn does not contain tobacco leaf. According to a 2023 article published in the British Dental Journal, “The oral health effects from the use of [nicotine pouches] are unknown but likely to be in keeping with other orally administered nicotine products. Localised gingival recession might be seen.”
Giving up smoking can be difficult, but nicotine pouches like Zyn are thought to make it easier. However, one expert says many don’t realize these products can cause issues in and of themselves.
In a viral TikTok, social media sensation Emma Chamberlain remarked that her gum receding was “getting worse” and that she used Zyn. This clip, in turn, was stitched by orthodontist and TikToker Dr. Sable (@bracesbysable). Chamberlain’s representatives did not immediately respond to the Daily Dot’s request for comment via email.
What did Dr. Sable say about Zyn?
“[People] might not know that Zyn is actually bad for your gums,” she said. “If you put it in the same spot, what it can do is cause severe gum loss along your gum line down here, and it can cause bone loss. So if you’re doing that every day, along with not flossing properly every day, you’re gonna start to see your gums recede. And once they recede, there’s no way to regrow them. The only options are to have a gum graft or just have them managed.”
@bracesbysable Dont use these! #teeth #braces #emmachamberlain #invisalign ♬ original sound – Dr. Sable | Orthodontist
“So if you’re really young and you’re using Zyn, this is your sign to stop or to go to your dentist,” she added. “Tell him you’re doing it and talk about [it]. I promise you, you do not want to be 40 [or] 50 and have a lot of gum loss and think, ‘Oh, man, if I had just stopped when I was 20 [or] 25, this would not be here. A lot of gum loss can cause severe sensitivity, and pain, and a lot of issues later in life. So, get ahead of it now; stop doing it. Go see your dentist and take care of your oral health.”
While a lot of commenters didn’t seem to know what Zyn was, those who did seemed well aware of the risks. “Who is using Zyn and doesn’t think they’re bad for your teeth?” one asked.
In an email to the Daily Dot, Dr. Sable added, “Nicotine pouches should only be used as [an] aid to quitting smoking. It should not be used in high school as a gateway to try nicotine substances. Nicotine pouches can cause gingival recession and gum loss if used in the same spot daily.”
This isn’t the first time Dr. Sable has brought her expertise to TikTok. Last year, she issued a PSA for people who recently used whitening strips. “Avoid [blue] mouthwash right after you whiten!” she said in the TikTok subtitles. “Teeth whitening opens up your tooth pores and can cause your teeth to be tinted light blue lol.”
A representative for Zyn didn’t immediately respond to the Daily Dot’s request for comment via email.
The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here to get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
