Oral Health Risks of Vaping

Originally invented in China, E-cigarettes, or vapes, have proven to be an effective way to stop smoking. Vapes work by heating coils of metal that vaporize an oil, the vaporized oil is then inhaled into the lungs. They are over all safer than smoking tobacco and the numerous chemicals added to commercial cigarettes. However, as they have become more and more common, and used for more years, vaping associated health risks have begun to be identified. There are numerous risks to the lungs, among them, droplets of oil build up in the circulatory system. Vaping also raises blood pressure. A 2019 study showed numerous risks to the cardiovascular system associated with vaping.

Vaping is still relatively new, and thus studies of its long-term effects are still underway. If you vape, or if you know someone who does, you may be concerned about these long term risks.

What oral health concerns might someone who vapes have? Are there any particular risks associated with vaping to good oral health? How are the teeth and inside of the mouth affected by E-cigarettes? Let’s look at the benefits vaping has over smoking for your oral health, as well as the specific risks it poses.

No tar

Compared to normal tobacco, vaping is better for the mouth thanks to one thing: the absence of tar. Tar is typically added to cigarettes and other smoking tobaccos. Tar/tobacco is associated with bone loss in the jaw, tooth discoloration and tartar build up, bad breath, and increased risk of inflammation in the mouth, among other things.

Fortunately, vapes don’t contain tar, so some of the main risks posed by cigarette and traditional tobacco smoking don’t exist in vaping. This means that yes, we can say that vaping is definitely better for your oral health than tobacco products. There are less bad oral health risks associated with vaping than with cigarettes. That’s fantastic news for smokers who use vaping to avoid tobacco. It means they can continue vaping and have much fewer worries about damaging their teeth.

If you insist on smoking, it’s almost certainly better to vape instead. This information may change as more long-term vaping studies appear.

So vaping is safe, right?

Not quite. As long-term vaping studies come out, the aforementioned health risks have become apparent. Vaping definitely has a bad effect on the heart, lungs, and circulatory system. Inhaling any aerosols into the lungs is generally a bad thing except in the cases of medicines taken in that way.

Risks to the body

Vaping has been associated with numerous bodily risks. If you care about your health as a whole, and you vape, be aware of those risks.

• Nicotine and E-cigarettes can cause tumor growth in the lungs.
• They can also cause various types of cancers.
  • Gastrointestinal cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
• Vaping can damage the blood cells.
• Vaping raises blood pressure.
• E-cigarette use increases the chance of cardiac disease.
• Inhaling oil vapors decreases the effectiveness of the immune system.

Dangers to oral health

Vaping has been positively identified to cause several types of damage to oral health.

Inhalation of bacteria

Sucking on the same device that you repeatedly put your mouth on is a great way to get more bacteria in the mouth. The bacteria from the mouth reproduces on the E-cigarette, and then gets sucked into the mouth. These bacteria then settle on the teeth, as they are in an aerosol, it’s easy for them to get all over the teeth and fill various hard-to-reach crevices. This results in an increased risk of cavities forming. The risk of cavities from vaping are similar to eating too many sweet sugary foods. Risk of inhaling bacteria becomes stronger when e-cigarette smokers share their vapes with other people as well.

Gum recession and disease

Vaping has been associated with gum recession. Gum recession is when the gums pull away from the teeth, exposing more of the tooth in the mouth. This can lead to the teeth being more susceptible to plaque and tartar build up, as well as cavities.

Vapes with nicotine reduce blood flow to the capillaries, leading to worse circulation in the mouth and gums. Users may be sensitive to other chemicals in vapes as well, meaning that the gums will be even more adversely affected.

Gum recession can lead to many worse problems as well. These problems include bleeding gums, increased chance of infection, and even loss of teeth. You can imagine the compound problem of receding gums and inhaling bacteria.

Watch out for loose teeth, tender or swollen gums, red/bleeding gums, and bad breath if you are an e-cigarette smoker.

Dry Mouth

The chemicals in vapes can dry out the mouth. Saliva helps cleanse the mouth by washing out bacteria. When the mouth is dry, it can’t help clean plaque, and other bacteria build up.

Tooth damage

Nicotine is a stimulant. Inhaling it can cause the teeth to grind and damage one another. If the person smoking the E-cigarette is already a tooth grinder, the problem is exacerbated.

Want to get your smoking/vaping under control?

If you are a smoker considering vaping, or an E-cigarette smoker considering it’s health risks, feel free to contact us to get some more information. Josey Lane Dentistry is a Carrollton Texas dentistry office with a wealth of knowledge on the dangers of smoking and vaping. We can help you quit either, and give you special advice on how to keep your teeth healthy if you are an E-cigarette smoker. The best way to keep your teeth the healthiest is to not smoke or vape – either way, we can help.