Vaping has become incredibly popular, especially among younger folks. While some see it as a safer alternative to smoking, the truth is that’s not a hard bar to clear. Smoking is one of the most dangerous habits for your dental and overall health. It can damage your teeth and turn them dull and yellow. But what about this “safer alternative?”
Vaping is bad for your teeth, as the heated vape juice can irritate your gums and damage your enamel. While many people claim it’s not as harmful as tobacco smoking, vaping still presents health risks you need to be aware of.
What Is Vaping?
You may have seen someone else vaping—you may even do it yourself—but what is it? What puts the “e” in an e-cigarette? Vaping involves inhaling vapour produced by an electronic device known as an e-cigarette or vape pen. These devices heat a liquid—often containing nicotine, flavourings, and other chemicals—into an aerosol that the user inhales.
This liquid may be referred to as e-juice, juice, vape juice, or simply e-liquid. This chemical, in combination with intense heat, can affect your teeth.
The Impact of Vaping on Oral Health
Since all you’re inhaling is vapour, vaping can sound fairly harmless when compared to smoking. While there is some evidence that vaping is less harmful than smoking, it’s far from healthy, and saying something is less harmful than smoking is much like saying something is less bright than the sun.
Firstly, many e-liquids contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. Even the brands that don’t have nicotine still have many other chemicals, of which experts are still exploring the long-term effects. Some of the ways the chemicals in e-liquids can affect your health are:
- Dry mouth: Vaping reduces saliva production, leading to dry mouth. Saliva is crucial for neutralizing acids and washing away food particles. A lack of saliva can increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
- Gum Issues: The nicotine in e-liquids can cause blood vessels in your gums to constrict, reducing blood flow. This makes your gums more susceptible to infection and disease.
- Tooth decay: The sweet flavourings in e-liquids can contribute to tooth decay. When you vape, these sugars interact with bacteria in your mouth, producing acids that erode your enamel.
- Increased blood pressure: Nicotine is a stimulant that can increase heart rate and blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure can have a detrimental effect on the small blood vessels in your gums, potentially contributing to the development of gum disease.
- Teeth discolouration: E-liquids contain various chemicals that can stain your teeth over time.
In general, you can assume many of these effects are less severe than smoking, but still certainly a problem.
Vaping & Stained Teeth
Vaping can have a noticeable impact on the colour of your teeth. The e-liquids used in vaping devices often contain various chemicals and colourants that, when heated, can settle on your teeth and cause discolouration. Over time, this can lead to yellowing or browning of the teeth, which can be difficult to remove with regular brushing.
The factors that affect how much staining you may notice include:
- Colourants in e-liquids: Many e-liquids contain artificial colourings and flavourings that can adhere to your enamel, leading to stains.
- Nicotine: Even if you’re using e-liquids with lower nicotine levels, nicotine still contributes to tooth staining. When exposed to oxygen, nicotine turns yellow, which then sticks to your teeth.
- Heat and moisture: The hotter a vape heats the e-liquid, the more harmful chemicals it creates, which can increase staining and health risks due to vaping.
To mitigate the staining effects of vaping, you can focus on adopting good oral hygiene practices and getting regular dental cleanings. However, the most effective way to prevent tooth discoloration associated with vaping is to cut down or cease the habit altogether.
Recommendations for People Who Vape
Many people have credited vaping with helping them quit smoking, which is great! However, if you don’t already use tobacco products, we recommend you don’t start vaping. If you’re already a vaper—or even a smoker—there are ways to minimize the damage to your oral health. Here are some practical tips:
- Maintain good dental hygiene: Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to strengthen your enamel and floss daily to remove food particles and plaque between your teeth.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to help counteract dry mouth and keep your saliva levels balanced.
- Use sugar-free e-liquids: Opt for e-liquids without added sugars to reduce the risk of tooth decay.
- Limit nicotine intake: Consider using e-liquids with lower nicotine concentrations to minimize gum inflammation.
- Combat stains with teeth whitening: If your teeth start to lose their gleam, professional teeth whitening can combat those intrinsic stains.
- Regular dental check-ups: Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and to catch any issues early.
Marks Dentistry Is Good for Your Smile
Vaping can have several negative effects on your oral health, from tooth decay to gum disease. While it may be a less harmful alternative to smoking, the facts are that it’s still not without risks. If you vape, you need to be extra careful with your teeth. Keep up with brushing and flossing, drink plenty of water, and visit our friendly team at Marks Dentistry for regular dental exams!
Think about your oral health every time you vape. Book your appointment today and let’s keep your smile healthy and bright.
