But have you ever considered the impact vaping has on your teeth? If you’re planning on making the switch, it may be a great time to talk to your dentist.
What is vaping?
There are many terms associated with using an e-cigarette, so it may be confusing what vaping actually is. Vaping simply refers to the use of an e-cigarette, which uses an aerosol or vapor, rather than burning tobacco. Both smoking and vaping deliver nicotine into the lungs and experts say that the nicotine is the primary source of health problems. So what are the differences in effects on your teeth between smoking and vaping?
Effects of smoking
The negative effects of smoking on oral health have been widely studied and are generally known. There are an estimated 7,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, with over 70 known to cause cancer. These chemicals, particularly nicotine and tar, have been shown to lead to tooth discoloration, bad breath, weakened enamel and a higher prevalence of gum disease, among other oral health issues.
Effects of vaping
E-cigarettes do not contain the thousands of chemicals that cigarettes do, but they have their own share of concerns. While vaping can help you avoid the bad breath and tooth discoloration that is associated with smoking, there are other risks to consider. Some of the negative effects of vaping include:
- Dry mouth: The base liquid of most e-cigarettes includes propylene glycol, which has been shown to cause dry mouth. Since there is a lack of saliva to wash away bacteria and food debris, dry mouth can lead to an increase of cavities and bad breath
- Weakened enamel: Additional components of e-cigarette liquid, vegetable glycerin and flavorings, have been shown to cause a decrease in enamel hardness. To make matters worse, it has been shown that the liquid in e-cigarettes can make bacteria stick to your teeth and gums and make it harder to remove, leading to gum disease or tooth decay
- Injury from explosions: One risk to your oral health that you may not have considered is the chance of injury from an exploding vape pen. It is estimated that there were over 2,000 e-cigarette explosions between 2015 and 2017 in the United States. An e-cigarette explosion can lead to loss of teeth and injury to soft tissue, such as lips, gums and cheeks
So which is worse?
At this point, it appears that vaping poses fewer oral health risks than smoking cigarettes. A 2018 review from the National Academy of Sciences found that research suggests fewer oral health risks associated with vaping versus smoking cigarettes. However, as more research becomes available, this conclusion may change.
The bottom line
At this point, there is a lack of definitive research on the oral health effects of vaping. More research needs to be done before we can make a determination on which is worse — smoking or vaping. The best and most obvious answer is to eliminate nicotine and tobacco products overall for the healthiest mouth. Visit a dentist for an examination, professional cleaning and to find out more about the effects of vaping on your oral health.
Request an appointment here: https://www.kaysvillefamilydentistry.com or call Kaysville Family Dentistry at (801) 546-2439 for an appointment in our Kaysville office.
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