The IQOS tobacco heating system appeared in Russia about 4 years ago. At the same time, not everyone knows what IQOS is, whether it can be used in a public place, and how it affects the color of teeth. In this article, we will answer the most popular questions about the device.
Important:
- IQOS is a tobacco heating system based on HeatControl ™ technology;
- Philip Morris International (PMI) has invested over $ 6 billion in research, development and commercialization of smokeless products. Today, more than 12 million adult users in more than 40 countries around the world have made their choice in favor of IQOS.
What is IQOS (Aykos)?
IQOS is an innovative tobacco heating system. In fact, Aykos is not an alternative to smoking cessation. For those contemplating the health risks that smoking can lead to, quitting tobacco in all its forms is the best choice.
IQOS is powered by HeatControl ™ technology. It controls the temperature inside the IQOS stick, preventing the tobacco from burning inside. It is the products of combustion that are more harmful to the human body, contributing to the development of diseases associated with smoking. For comparison, tobacco in a stick for Aykos heats up to 350 ° C, while in a cigarette the temperature can reach from 600 ° to 800 ° C.
The technology has long been researched and tested by scientists and engineers at the Swiss Research Center. For over 20 years they have been developing smokeless platforms that could reduce the risks to smokers. And they did it: when using IQOS, 95% less harmful substances are emitted compared to cigarettes *.
Important: This does not mean a 95% risk reduction. Using IQOS does not eliminate health risks.
* Average reduction in pollutant levels (excluding nicotine) in IQOS aerosol compared to the smoke of the reference cigarette used in the study (3R4F)
Are there any clinical studies on IQOS?
Before introducing IQOS to the market, Philip Morris International (PMI) tested it for a long time on organ-on-a-chip human cells, and also studied the effect of IQOS on the body of adult volunteer smokers.
The largest study was the Exposure Response Study, which lasted 12 months. It was attended by 984 adult volunteer smokers: 488 completely switched to IQOS, and 496 continued to smoke cigarettes. Scientists tracked the performance of 8 markers associated with smoking-related diseases. After 6 months of research, all markers of volunteer users of IQOS have decreased and are almost equal to those of nonsmokers.
Does using IQOS affect tooth enamel color?
IQOS steam and cigarette smoke have a different composition: the steam is mainly composed of water, glycerin and nicotine. And it also lacks solid particles that are contained in cigarette smoke and just give the teeth a dark yellow tint.
In order to test the effect of IQOS steam and cigarette smoke on tooth color, scientists conducted an experiment. They took samples of molars and dental composites, a material often used for fillings. Placing them in a special laboratory system Vitrocell®️ 24/48, they exposed one part of the samples with cigarette smoke, and the other with IQOS steam. In total, the experiment lasted three weeks: four days a week the samples were "blown", and for the other three days they were placed in artificial saliva at a temperature of 37 ° C. They were also brushed with a toothbrush.
At the beginning and at the end of the experiment, the color of the teeth and fillings was checked with a special device - a spectrophotometer - a camera that measures the color and converts the data into digital values. The spectrophotometer showed that the samples exposed to cigarette smoke had a characteristic dark yellow color. Teeth and fillings exposed to IQOS steam hardly changed their color. The tobacco vapor emitted when using IQOS stains teeth significantly less than cigarette smoke *.
Please note: if your teeth are already coated with cigarette smoke, switching to IQOS will not reduce their darkening. Therefore, the advantage will be most evident after professional teeth cleaning and a complete switch to IQOS.
* In a laboratory study conducted in Switzerland, human teeth and most common dental fillings exposed to IQOS aerosol for 3 weeks showed significantly less staining compared to samples exposed to standard reference cigarette smoke (3R4F). Unlike real conditions, the samples were not exposed to other colorants, such as coffee, tea or wine, that could interfere with the results.
Can IQOS be used in public places?
Due to its composition, the vapor that is released when using IQOS has a less pronounced smell and dissipates in a couple of minutes. Despite the fact that steam is likely to cause less discomfort to others, it is best to use the device in public places with the consent of the administration. There are also many IQOS-friendly establishments (a list of them can be found on the official website of Aykos), special lounges at airports and branded boutiques of the brand, where consultants can show how to use the device.
How do I take IQOS for a free test drive?
Before buying IQOS, you can test it - this is a service offered by the brand. To do this, go to the official website of Aikos in the "Test Drive" section and fill out a short questionnaire. An expert will call you back later and make an appointment. On it, he will give you the device, and also tell you how to use Aykos and answer all your questions. A test drive is provided with an IQOS 2.4 Plus model for 7 days. After this time, you can easily return the device - the test drive does not oblige you to anything, or inform the courier about your intention to purchase the device - then he will bring you the model you like and take the test IQOS 2.4 Plus.
Where to buy IQOS?
IQOS can be purchased on the IQOS official website, in branded stores and partner stores. There are 3 models in total:
IQOS 2.4 Plus is the first device that the company introduced to the Russian market. Consists of charger and holder. The holder is charged in 4 minutes 10 seconds, the charger - 90 minutes using a cable with a MicroUSB connector. Available in black and white.
The price of IQOS 2.4 Plus is 2990 rubles *.
IQOS 3 is a third generation device. It also consists of a charger and holder - the most compact in the IQOS line. The holder takes 3 minutes and 30 seconds to recharge, which is 15% faster than the previous model. The device has an updated design and two new colors: blue and gold, as well as the ability to customize the device for yourself using multi-colored accessories: caps, side panels, covers and cases.
The price of IQOS 3 is 5990 rubles *.
IQOS 3 Multi is called an all-in-one device. The charger and the holder are combined into one unit.Due to this, the model does not need to be recharged between sessions, since when fully charged, it is enough for 10 sessions in a row. You can also buy multi-colored caps and silicone cases to diversify the appearance of the device. Available in 4 colors: black, white, blue and gold.
The price of IQOS 3 Multi is 5990 rubles *.
* The price is on the official IQOS website at the time of this writing.