Nicotine permeability through the mucous membrane depends on pH, with the uptake improving with higher pH. The invention provides stabilization of basic pH at the surface of the product during oral use thereof, without reducing nicotine mobility within the oral smokeless tobacco or nicotine-containing non-tobacco product. The invention in one aspect relates to an oral smokeless tobacco or nicotine-containing non-tobacco product comprising a composition enclosed by a wrapping material, wherein the wrapping material comprises a magnesium carbonate. In another aspect, the invention relates to an oral smokeless tobacco or nicotine-containing non-tobacco product comprising a composition enclosed by a wrapping material, and comprising a liner adjacent to the wrapping material, wherein the liner comprises magnesium carbonate in an amount of 0.1 to 10%, by total weight of the oral smokeless product.