Effects of electronic cigarettes on teeth

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The use of electronic cigarettes or vaping has gained a lot of popularity in recent years. It is becoming more common and particularly popular among adolescents and conventional smokers.

Is vaping a healthy alternative to conventional tobacco?

The oral health consequences of conventional smoking are well established. By contrast, the impact of e-cigarettes on oral health is still unclear.

  It is well known that tobacco stains teeth, causes gum disease and therefore possible tooth loss, and is one of the biggest contributors to oral cancer.

Does the electronic cigarette damage teeth and gums?

nicotine and gums

There is a common myth that e-cigarettes are better than smoking tobacco. However, vaping still involves delivering nicotine to the body, and nicotine affects, among many other things, the gums. Nicotine causes vasoconstriction, which means that the gum receives a poorer blood supply. This makes the gums more susceptible to infection and can cause them to recede.

Vaping uses an aerosol or vapor as its nicotine delivery system, which has the same negative impact on oral health regardless of how it is consumed.

Although the electronic cigarette contains a much lower amount of nicotine than traditional tobacco products, it still has a negative effect on the gums. Even without nicotine, other ingredients included in the electronic cigarette can impair oral health. Some potential complications of vaping and nicotine use include receding gums, dry mouth, tooth sensitivity, bad breath, development of tooth decay and gum disease, as well as the possibility of oral cancer.

propylene glycol

One of the main ingredients, other than nicotine, is propylene glycol, which is safe to eat and inhale, but when used orally it breaks down into acids that damage enamel and irritate soft tissue. It also causes dry mouth as it removes essential saliva which leads to tooth decay and gum disease.

Drinking water can help rehydrate your mouth, but it's not a replacement for saliva, which contains compounds that help protect teeth from damage by Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria that causes tooth decay.

There are studies that show that switching from conventional tobacco to electronic cigarettes can mitigate oral symptoms in conventional smokers. Even so, findings have been uncovered that suggest that a wide range of oral health sequelae may be associated with e-cigarettes.

In fact, since traditional tobacco products do not contain propylene glycol, vaping at this point would be worse for oral health than conventional tobacco.

On the other hand, anything that exposes your gums directly to heat and nicotine will make you more likely to develop gum disease and lose teeth.

Does vaping stain teeth?

In relation to the staining of the teeth, theoretically, vaping should have less of an effect.

Conventional cigarettes turn teeth yellow and brown, due not only to nicotine, but also to the tar they contain.

Electronic cigarettes do not contain tar, but do contain nicotine. Nicotine is colorless by itself, but turns light yellow when exposed to oxygen.

So long-term vaping may well, in theory at least, also stain your teeth.

Tips

Due to the adverse effects that are seen to be generated by both tobacco and electronic cigarettes. The ideal would be not to use or consume them. However, if this is not possible, the thing to do is take care of our teeth, which can help reduce the risk of side effects.

It is important to limit nicotine intake. Opting for low-nicotine or non-nicotine liquids can help limit its negative effects on your teeth and gums.

Drinking water after vaping prevents dry mouth and bad breath by rehydrating your mouth after vaping.

Brush your teeth two or three times a day. Brushing helps remove plaque, which helps prevent cavities and promotes overall gum health.

Use dental floss. Like brushing, flossing helps remove plaque from areas where the brush doesn't reach and promotes healthy gums.

Visit the dentist regularly. If you can, visit a dentist at least once a year for a cleaning and checkup. Maintaining a regular cleaning schedule will aid in the early detection and treatment of any underlying conditions.

Source: adeslasdental

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