Nicotine gum allows you to control how much nicotine you use, letting you combat cravings quickly. It works by releasing nicotine into your bloodstream through your mouth lining. The nicotine is only released from the gum when you chew it. The correct way to use the gum is to chew it until the taste becomes strong, then let the gum rest in your cheek. When the taste fades, you should chew again to release more nicotine.