Yesterday in another thread I blatantly dismissed possibility of significant absorption of nic in a mouth. But I became curious and made some research – “theoretical” and “experimental”. I found out I owe an apologies to my opponents @Baditude, @pwheeler, @retired1, @JCinFLA and @afishhunter. My apologies.
In my defense I may say that my strongly negative reaction on the topic was due to some dumb statement made by some pro-vape doctor and widely accepted in a vaping community, a statement that vapor particles are so big that they cannot penetrate dip into lungs. It’s complete bullmanure.
Let’s forget about particle size once and forever, because they are small enough go whenever they want in lungs. Another thing in my defence is that as a former cigarette smoker I did remember that mouth absorption of nic is rather small and not satisfying (and it is true for cigarettes).
OK, now “theoretical” part.
Nicotine absorption through membranes (mouth, lungs) greatly depends on pH (meaning it depends on acidity/alkalinity) of environment. Alkaline environment helps. Natural environment in mouth is neutral (pH=7) and in lungs is a bit alkaline (pH=7.4). Cigarettes change environment to more acidic, it turns mouth environment to acidic state and it decrease nic absorption significantly, so for cigarettes the most significant absorption occurs in lungs. Cigars change environment to more alkaline, so for them absorption in mouth is significant (but I cannot compare it with absorption in lungs – did not find data). Snus is made to be alkaline to increase mouth absorption.
“Experimental” part
Yesterday, after all the reading was done, I decided to check if I can survive without inhaling vapor. I survived for two hours. But the main test was today in the morning: I did not inhale again for two hours and did not have cravings at all. Since then I inhaled vapor only 8 times (yes, I counted) and I am OK. And a bonus - with my new vape technique I feel flavor much better! My “technique” – exhale, draw vapor in mouth, keep it in a mouth while inhaling trough a nose, exhale through a nose.
In addition I checked pH of one of my juices, it was around 7.2-7.4, i.e. alkaline (good for mouth absorption). But for measurements I used indicator strips, not the best method for pH measurmements. I think flavors can change pH of a juice in any direction, make it better or worse for mouth absorption.
So, my point now is:
- Significant and even satisfying absorption of nic through a mouth is possible.
- Proportion of mouth/lung absorption is unknown and may depend on many things, such as time spent by vapor in a mouth and flavorings.
- For direct lung inhalers all of this is of no interest because they get by far the greatest part of their nicotine from their lungs.
In my defense I may say that my strongly negative reaction on the topic was due to some dumb statement made by some pro-vape doctor and widely accepted in a vaping community, a statement that vapor particles are so big that they cannot penetrate dip into lungs. It’s complete bullmanure.
Let’s forget about particle size once and forever, because they are small enough go whenever they want in lungs. Another thing in my defence is that as a former cigarette smoker I did remember that mouth absorption of nic is rather small and not satisfying (and it is true for cigarettes).
OK, now “theoretical” part.
Nicotine absorption through membranes (mouth, lungs) greatly depends on pH (meaning it depends on acidity/alkalinity) of environment. Alkaline environment helps. Natural environment in mouth is neutral (pH=7) and in lungs is a bit alkaline (pH=7.4). Cigarettes change environment to more acidic, it turns mouth environment to acidic state and it decrease nic absorption significantly, so for cigarettes the most significant absorption occurs in lungs. Cigars change environment to more alkaline, so for them absorption in mouth is significant (but I cannot compare it with absorption in lungs – did not find data). Snus is made to be alkaline to increase mouth absorption.
“Experimental” part
Yesterday, after all the reading was done, I decided to check if I can survive without inhaling vapor. I survived for two hours. But the main test was today in the morning: I did not inhale again for two hours and did not have cravings at all. Since then I inhaled vapor only 8 times (yes, I counted) and I am OK. And a bonus - with my new vape technique I feel flavor much better! My “technique” – exhale, draw vapor in mouth, keep it in a mouth while inhaling trough a nose, exhale through a nose.
In addition I checked pH of one of my juices, it was around 7.2-7.4, i.e. alkaline (good for mouth absorption). But for measurements I used indicator strips, not the best method for pH measurmements. I think flavors can change pH of a juice in any direction, make it better or worse for mouth absorption.
So, my point now is:
- Significant and even satisfying absorption of nic through a mouth is possible.
- Proportion of mouth/lung absorption is unknown and may depend on many things, such as time spent by vapor in a mouth and flavorings.
- For direct lung inhalers all of this is of no interest because they get by far the greatest part of their nicotine from their lungs.
