While the use of traditional tobacco products is at its lowest in decades, vaping is on a rapid rise. Estimates suggest that youngsters are switching to vaping at incredible rates, with one in five 18-29 year olds now regularly vaping. What is the link between vaping and oral health, though? In this blog, we thought we would take a closer look.
Vaping and oral health: what impact does it have?
While vaping does have fewer toxic chemicals compared to regular cigarettes, it still has a negative impact on your health, including your teeth and gums. When they are heated, e-cigarettes release formaldehyde, which can be very harmful, while the aerosols that users breathe in contain chemicals that can be harmful to your lungs and oral health.
Gums
Regularly vaping can irritate your gums and throat, causing them to become painful and sore. This, in turn, can lead to a range of periodontal diseases, with one study revealing that 50% of e-cigarette users had at least one missing tooth!
Teeth
Of course, when it comes to vaping and oral health, it is not just about your gums. The fluids used in a vape pen are often packed with chemicals and dyes, which can lead to staining. The heat of the aerosol, combined with gum recession, can lead to increased sensitivity.
Vaping vs. smoking
Many people mistakenly believe that when it comes to vaping and oral health, it is far less dangerous compared to smoking. However, this does not mean that it is safe, and the e-liquids used in a vape pen contain a wide range of cancer-causing chemicals, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), heavy metals, and nicotine, making them just as harmful.
As they are a relatively new product, the long-term effects of regularly vaping are still unknown, but as previously mentioned, it can lead to gum disease, mouth cancer, and tooth loss.
What are the negative dental health issues from vaping?
Vaping can have a significant impact on your oral health. One of the first conditions that almost every vaper will experience is what is called vape tongue. This is where excessive use of an e-cigarette leads to a temporary loss of taste. Other common conditions include:
Permanently damaged tastebuds
Over time, the more you vape, the more harm you do to your tastebuds. This will eventually lead to permanent damage that will change the way you taste things.
Dry mouth
Saliva is an essential part of our oral health, helping to wash away debris and protect our teeth from plaque and bacteria. Regular vaping causes our mouths to dry out, reducing the amount of saliva and seeing the bacteria on our teeth to multiply.
Tooth decay
Another major issue caused by regular vaping is tooth decay. Many of the e-liquids people use contain artificial flavorings and high sugar content in order to mimic popular flavors such as bubble gum. This means every inhalation sees large amounts of sugar entering your mouth, which bacteria feed on.
Bad breath
Alongside staining your teeth, vaping is also a common cause of bad breath. The chemicals used in vape juice leave bacteria behind in your mouth, which can lead to foul smells.
Does the type of vape or vape juice matter for oral health?
When it comes to finding a vape juice, customers have an almost endless choice of flavors which can be a little overwhelming, but does the type of vape juice matter? In short, yes, it does.
Vape juice is packed with a range of chemicals that can be very harmful to your oral health. The juice primarily contains Propylene Glycol (PG), which, although safe for human consumption, when broken down it, produces acetic acid, propionaldehyde, and lactic acid. These are all very harmful to your teeth, breaking down the enamel and soft tissue.
These e-cigarette liquids also often contain Vegetable Glycerine (VG) and various flavorings. These can contain huge amounts of sugar, which results in an acceleration of cavities. Research has also shown that it decreases the hardness of your enamel.
Finally, every vape juice will contain some amount of nicotine. While this is lower than a traditional cigarette, it can still cause damage to your teeth and gums. Taking your time to do your research and find brands that offer sugar-free solutions and low nicotine choices can reduce the impact vaping has on your oral health.
Are there certain ingredients to avoid while vaping?
Any kind of vape juice can be harmful to your oral health, but there are certain ingredients that you should try to avoid where possible, including nicotine and Propylene Glycol, as both of them have been shown to be harmful to your oral health.
It can be tough to know what exactly is in your vape juice as many manufacturers do not list the ingredients on their packaging. Where possible, you should avoid flavored liquids as much as possible, as these can often lead to gum inflammation.
Vaping and oral health: how to reduce its impact
While there can be no denying the impact vaping has on your oral health, there are certain steps that you can take to reduce its effects:
Visit your dentist
One of the best ways to improve your oral health is to make sure that you are regularly visiting your dentist. Seeing them twice a year is the best way to ensure you are maintaining your oral health and that any areas of concern are identified before they become a major issues.
Reduce your intake
Try and reduce the number of times that you use your vape pen. Lowering your intake will reduce the negative effect that these harmful chemicals have on your oral health.
Practice good oral health
If you regularly vape, then it is essential that you are following good oral health practices. That means brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing every evening. This will help to prevent the build-up of plaque and bacteria and promote strong gum health.
Drink water
Finally, make sure that you are drinking water every time you vape. This can help to avoid the dreaded dry mouth and poor breath and will also wash away some of the bacteria in your mouth.
When to see the dentist
You should see your dentist at least once a year in order to maintain good oral hygiene, but if you notice any of the following symptoms, you should seek an appointment immediately:
- Gumline receding
- Painful and inflamed gums
- Toothache
- Increased sensitivity
- Frequent dry mouth
- Ulcers which do not heal
Keeping an eye out for these signs and ensuring you regularly brush and floss your teeth will help to reduce the impact that vaping has on your teeth and gums.