Vaping, which means using e-cigarettes, has become very popular lately because people think it’s a safer choice compared to smoking regular cigarettes. But there’s a real worry about it. There are so many different vaping products and ingredients available today that even doctors are having a hard time figuring out what the long-term effects might be.
Government data shows that the number of people vaping more than doubled from 4% to 8.6% between 2021 and 2022, even though doctors have been warning about its impact on oral and overall health.
Vaping is when you breathe in nicotine through flavored water vapor. Vape liquids come in different levels of nicotine, and some have none at all. But people who vape, whether it’s just for fun or to try to quit smoking, often wonder if it’s bad for their teeth and mouth.
There’s a lot of confusing information about the potential harm of vaping, so it’s time to clear things up, look at the latest research, and see how using e-cigarettes might be hurting your dental health.
Table of Contents
How Vaping Affects Your Teeth?
In Vapes, a battery supplies an atomizer that heats and vaporizes the chemicals you inhale through the mouthpiece. You assume you are not receiving the harmful chemicals in conventional cigarettes and hope your dental and overall health is not affected.
Effects of Vaping on Your Teeth
Nicotine is a common ingredient in traditional cigarettes, vapes, and e-cigarettes. While you enjoy a vape or an E-cigarette, the nicotine inside the vape formula is causing your blood vessels to shrink. Not only will this lead to increased overall blood pressure in the body, but it will also constrict the blood vessels inside the gums. As a result, the blood supply to the gums decreases, and your gums and oral soft tissues become vulnerable to disease. Vaping can cause the below-mentioned harm to your teeth.
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Dry Mouth
Vape juice or e-juice—the liquid that fills vape and e-cigarette cartridges—contains nicotine and other substances that the device heats up and vaporizes, which you then inhale. Some vapes contain propylene glycol and nicotine that cause dryness in the mouth.
A dry mouth is harmful because your mouth relies on adequate saliva flow to protect your teeth from decay. Saliva helps strengthen your tooth enamel and rids your mouth of harmful bacteria, so any substance that inhibits saliva production is hazardous to oral health.
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Teeth Grinding
Nicotine has also been linked to bruxism (teeth grinding), which causes significant wear on teeth and enamel. You should seek treatment to prevent further damage if you clench your teeth frequently during the day or suffer from night grinding.
Over time, teeth grinding can cause sensitivity and decay from worn enamel, chipped or cracked teeth, and painful jaw issues. A mouthguard may help protect your teeth at night, but quitting vaping is the most effective way to stop the grinding.
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Staining
Regular use of vaping will turn your teeth yellow and eventually brown over time because of the availability of nicotine. Tooth staining isn’t necessarily damaging to your teeth but can damage your self-esteem and make you less confident in your smile. If you’re considering a tooth whitening treatment, it’s best to avoid nicotine to keep your teeth white and healthy.
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Enamel Erosion
Another harm of vaping is that it destroys your tooth enamel and leaves your teeth vulnerable to cavities and infections. Because of the flavor, the vape juice may contain vegetable glycerin. The sweetener in vape juice allows harmful bacteria to stick to and attack the surface of your teeth. Dry mouth, teeth grinding, and bacteria buildup each cause enamel erosion, but when combined, your enamel doesn’t stand a chance against tooth decay.
Can Vaping Stain My Teeth?
We know that smoking regular cigarettes and tobacco is bad for your teeth. These products have a lot of tar, which can make your teeth turn yellow. When you vape, you don’t get tar, but the fake flavors and the thick cloud in vape liquids can also make your teeth look worse because they catch stains on your enamel. This staining can happen whether you use vapes with or without nicotine, and it can affect both your natural teeth and any fillings that match the color of your teeth.
What is the Effect of Vaping on Your Health
| Oral Health Conditions | Caused by Vaping | Caused by Smoking |
| Gum disease | Yes | Yes |
| Increased chances of cavities | Yes (to a large extent if there is sugar in the vapor) | Yes (to a small extent) |
| Tooth staining | Maybe- definitely less than smoking | Yes |
| Oral Cancer | Maybe | Yes |
| Tooth grinding | Yes | Yes |
| Bad breath | Yes- but less than smoking | Yes |
Vapes and E-cigarettes don’t have tobacco, but they contain nicotine that causes various consequences to your health. In addition to being addictive, researchers now believe nicotine has a role in causing cancer. According to a study, nicotine inhaled through vapes increases the risk of developing cancer by altering the genetic makeup of your cells and stimulating the growth of cancerous cells in the body.
Inhaling nicotine through vapes or E-cigarettes can cause the following types of cancer:
- Lung cancer
- Gastrointestinal cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Breast cancer
Vaping hasn’t been around for a long time. The short-term data about vaping shows that it can cause:
- Impacts the health of the lungs
- Damages the blood cells
- Increases the risk of heart disease
- Negative impacts on your immune system
How to Minimize the Side Effects of Vaping
Quitting is the best way to protect your teeth from the side effects of vaping. However, we know that quitting vaping isn’t as easy as it seems, so we have discussed some ways below to minimize the damage from vaping.
- Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing them daily to reduce your risk of tooth decay.
- Drinking water after vaping reduces tooth decay, bacteria, and dry mouth.
- After vaping, suck on sugar-free mints to combat dry mouth and bad breath.
- Visit your dentist twice a year for dental cleanings and exams to keep your mouth clean and healthy.
Give Us a Call for Your Dental Cleaning Services
Consumption of vaping or E-cigarettes can cause you numerous issues related to your teeth and your health too. The best way to combat the harmful effects of vaping is to quit smoking E-cigarettes or vaping. If you cannot quit, you can follow the abovementioned steps.
If you’re searching for a dentist to lower the effects of vaping on your teeth in Anoka, MN. You can visit our office at 12 Bridge Square, #106, Anoka, MN 55303
At the Anoka Dental Clinic, we design treatment plans that consider your aesthetic and financial needs. Teeth whitening services in Anoka, MN, can boost not only your smile but also your attitude, your confidence, and your entire life. Kickstart your journey to get crystal clear teeth; you may call our office at (763) 421-4002 or complete this appointment request form.
