4 Ways Vaping Affects Your Oral Health

You’ve probably heard of the negative effects smoking can have on your oral and overall health. Some smokers have made the change to electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or vapes) because they believe they are a safer option. As a result, e-cigarettes are now the most popular tobacco products among children and adolescents. However, vaping is not without health risks, contributing to various oral and overall health problems. To put things in perspective, here are 4 ways vaping affects your smile.

1) Periodontal (Gum) Disease

Many e-cigarettes contain nicotine. According to the American Heart Association, whether it is vaped or smoked, nicotine restricts bloodflow to the gums, increasing your risk of gum disease. Additionally, e-cigarettes commonly have ingredients such as propylene glycol, benzene, and formaldehyde, all of which heighten the risk of gum disease.

Earlier stages of gum disease can be treated and even reversed, but it can develop into an extremely dangerous condition that increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious health concerns.

2) Oral Bacterial Changes

Vaping can create excess bacteria in your mouth that can lead to tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and even oral cancer. Studies have shown the aerosol from e-cigarettes significantly increased the amount of harmful bacteria clinging to the hard-to-reach areas of teeth.

3) Tooth Discoloration

Tar and nicotine from cigarette smoke can cause tooth discoloration. Although vapes do not contain tar, some still have nicotine in them, which can stain your teeth. If your teeth are yellow or a brownish color, you may become self-conscious about your smile.

4) Dry Mouth & Bad Breath

Dry mouth is a common side effect of vaping. This is because of certain ingredients inside the e-cigarettes, such as propylene glycol. Over time, dry mouth can cause bad breath, difficulty swallowing, mouth sores, tooth decay, and more.

You may think vaping is a good alternative to traditional cigarettes, but both can harm your body and smile. Quitting smoking altogether is the way to go for the sake of your health!

About the Author

Dr. George T. Philip provides a wide range of dental services to protect and enhance the smiles of the Sunnyvale community. Dr. Philip is committed to preventing, detecting, and treating tooth trouble before it’s even a concern. As such, he offers regular dental checkups and cleanings, gum disease therapy, mouthguards, nightguards, oral cancer screenings, and fluoride treatments to preserve your oral health. If you want to know more about how vaping affects your smile, contact Dr. Philip through his website or by phone at (972) 285-6144.