Does vaping affect teeth?

Despite its simplicity, many people find it challenging to maintain an appropriate dental hygiene regimen. In addition to negligence, time constraints, monotony issues, lifestyle, and dietary habits play a critical part in setting back oral hygiene goals. Several potential culprits rob our teeth and gums of their ‘natural’ vigor, from coffee to red wine to cigarettes. Studies reveal that regularly drinking coffee and red wine leads to extrinsic teeth stains and discoloration. Another ‘popular’ consumption trend that has come under the radar of dentists and dental hygienists is vaping. So, let us try and find an answer to the looming question of whether vaping affects teeth or is it just an unscrupulous grapevine? 

The Basics of Vaping

Vaping has become a popular alternative to traditional cigarettes. The process involves a vaping device that produces an aerosol byproduct from hating up a liquid that consists of flavors, additives, and other mild chemicals. The motivation behind including these ostensibly ‘mild’ ingredients is to tone down the harshness of the vaping process and make it safer than smoking cigarettes. The liquid heated up in the vaping device may be nicotine, marijuana, or other drugs that are delivered to the user through a mouthpiece inhaled into the lungs and exhaled via the nose or mouth. 

Alternately known as electronic cigarettes, vape is considered a healthier alternative to traditional smoking. But, the reality is far grimmer. As per official data, the use of e-cigarettes by high school and middle school students has increased the percentage of the overall consumption of tobacco by 38 percent among high school students and 29 percent among middle school students. Moreover, 9 percent of US adults state that they vape ‘regularly’ or ‘occasionally.’

Does Vaping Affect Dental Health?

In addition to being detrimental to overall health, vaping also adversely affects dental health. Some of the common problems associated with vaping are:

1. Dry mouth is the most typical issue related to vaping. Research reveals that propylene glycol – a compound used as a base in liquid e-cigarettes or vapes-can dry the mouth. Some of the consequent problems that a dry mouth can cause are mouth sores, bad breath, tooth decay, and so forth.
2. Throat irritation is another condition related to the regular use of vapes and e-cigarettes. Studies illustrate that vapers are more likely to suffer from throat and mouth infections vis-à-vis non-vapers. 
3. Cell death is a critical issue that is analogous to consistent vaping. E-cigarettes and vapes can cause inflammation and damage the DNA inside the mouth, forcing cells to lose their ability to reproduce and multiply. The pertinent issues that ensue cell death are tooth decay, dry mouth, bone loss, tooth loss, etc.
4. Vaping has also been linked to excessive bacteria formation in the mouth. This is because the aerosol used in vaping is constantly in contact with the teeth, triggering more bacteria growth and accumulation. We all know that unrestrained bacterial genesis inside the mouth can cause plaque, periodontitis, tooth decay, or caries. 

Vaping is not a clean alternative to smoking. Therefore, it is imperative to avoid certain substances like nicotine, menthol, and propylene glycol as vape liquids.

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