Smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco can directly lead to poor oral health in a variety of ways, from stained teeth to periodontal disease. Cigarettes and other traditional tobacco products have also been linked to increased cancer risk (especially lung and oral cancer). However, in recent years, a new trend has popped up with a vengeance: vaping, which is often seen as a way to scratch the itch of nicotine dependence without the harmful side effects often associated with cigarette smoking. Countless people have turned to vape pens and e-cigarettes to avoid the bad breath, mouth cancer, and gum disease that can be caused by smoking traditional cigarettes. However, the fact remains that since the technology is relatively new, there haven’t been many studies about the long-term overall health risks of vaping.
With the rise of medical cases over the past few years that do appear linked to using e-cigarettes or vaping devices, there is a strong possibility that the substances present in vape juice and e-cigarette aerosol — including nicotine, propylene glycol, and other chemicals — may have health risks. The hope is that you aren’t seeing effects to the point of needing to fill cavities in our Mercer County, NJ, office, but you should still learn more about vaping and its potential negative effects. Here’s what you need to know about vaping, oral health problems, and maintaining a healthy smile.
What Exactly is Vaping?
E-cigarettes can take many shapes and forms, the most common one being the vape pen. These electronic devices take the liquid that replaces tobacco and heat it until it becomes an inhalable vapor. Some people use e-cigarettes as a way to reduce or quit smoking traditional cigarettes, which many vape companies claim helps reduce or even eliminate the higher risk of lung cancer associated with tobacco smoking. While this may be true for some individuals, it’s also a double-edged sword, as research also shows that people who have never smoked cigarettes before are now becoming addicted to nicotine.
Traditional tobacco use is at an all-time low among young people in 2024, but research shows that vaping appears to be the next big trend. There has been a veritable explosion in young e-cigarette users across the United States and the rest of the world, which is not helped by the fact that many e-cigarette flavorings resemble energy drinks and sugary candies. These additives and sweet flavorings in the vape liquid make smoking electronic cigarettes taste and smell more appealing, even for people who are not interested in traditional tobacco products.
Something important to remember about vaping products and e-cigarettes is that many of them are manufactured by companies that already have a history in the nicotine industry. Many of these companies have a less-than-squeaky-clean record, with a history of working to cover up the research showing the consequences of tobacco use, such as lung cancer, mouth cancer, and other oral cancer(s). The so-called “Big Tobacco” that fought to hide the health risks of harmful ingredients in the 1950s and 60s has now transformed, trying to tempt a new audience into using e-cigarettes. While these companies may claim that assistance with quitting smoking is their main goal, they very much want you to remain dependent on vaping, e-cigarettes, and other nicotine products to line their own pockets.
How Does Nicotine Affect My Oral Health?
It is now a widely known fact that smoking tobacco has a vastly negative impact on your teeth and gums, as well as your overall oral health. While vapes and e-cigarettes do not contain traditional tobacco and more research still needs to be conducted into their exact effects on soft tissue, you don’t need to be exposed to cigarette smoke to run the risk of developing gum disease. Nicotine IS a significant oral health risk, and its presence in these products is impossible to avoid. Here’s a general look at how nicotine affects your teeth and gums:
Increased Risk of Gum Disease
Nicotine restricts blood flow throughout your body, especially in your oral cavity, where it is breathed in. This reduction of blood flow can lead to your gums not getting enough oxygen and essential nutrients to stay healthy. This can lead to an increased risk of gum disease (also called periodontal disease), a natural inflammatory response involving puffy or swollen gums. While mild gum disease can be treated by brushing with fluoride toothpaste, flossing, and visiting your dentist regularly for teeth and gum health checkups, prolonged or severe gum disease can result in much more serious consequences, including but not limited to tooth decay and tooth loss.
Bacterial Tooth Decay
Gum disease isn’t the only problem you may encounter as a result of e-cigarette use. Increased nicotine levels in your system can also lead to decreased saliva production. Saliva helps to combat dry mouth, bad breath, plaque buildup, and excess bacteria. With less saliva to combat these conditions, your tooth enamel suffers, and you may end up with more cavities. In extreme cases, the resulting tooth decay may require extensive surgery or even result in tooth loss.
A Brush with Bruxism
When nicotine is inhaled during vaping, it acts as a muscle stimulant. A potential side effect of this muscle stimulant can result in bruxism. Bruxism is the act of grinding your teeth or continually pushing your jaw forward, which can lead to your teeth breaking or cracking. It can also cause mouth sores, misaligned teeth, and other oral health complications. While you can develop bruxism even if you’ve never smoked cigarettes or used vape products before, vape and cigarette smokers are more likely to experience this negative effect due to the stimulating properties of nicotine.
Stay Safe & Be Smart!
Is vaping bad for your teeth, gums, and overall oral health? We can’t definitively say anything yet about the direct impact of vaping on oral health — but if the history of these products has anything to tell us, it’s better to be safe than sorry. To avoid the potential for gum disease, mouth cancer, dry mouth, and other problems, it appears the safest course of action for your oral health is not to begin vaping in the first place. If you do use vapes, e-cigarettes, or tobacco products, make sure to never skip your regular check-ups and have your teeth and gums examined regularly by a skilled dental professional, including frequent mouth cancer checks.
Do you need the services of one of the top gum disease doctors in Mercer County, NJ, or are you concerned about the effects of vaping on your teeth or gums? Contact Hamilton Dental Associates to schedule an appointment today. We are here to help you achieve the healthy and beautiful smile you’ve always wanted!
