Nicorette gum can also be used to reduce the amount smoked by those who just cannot make a clean break from smoking. They can take a "cigarette holiday" where they prolong the smoke-free periods between cigarettes. It can also be used in situations where temporary abstinence from smoking is required. Examples of these situations include non-smoking airline flights, non-smoking eateries, or any other environment where you have to refrain from smoking.

Although Nicorette gum contains nicotine it does not give you the same pleasurable "buzz" that you get from cigarettes. This means that it is easier to give up the gum than it is to quit cigarettes. Nicorette gum releases less nicotine in the bloodstream in a much slower fashion than cigarettes do. When you smoke a cigarette, it only takes seconds for the nicotine to reach the brain, although the nicotine levels in the blood are quickly diminished until the next inhalation repeats the process. With Nicorette gum there is no surge of nicotine because the body absorbs less of it. The important thing is to make sure that you receive enough to avoid the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and alleviate the craving for cigarettes.