Even though scary stories of vaping and E-cigarettes fill up our Facebook feeds and our favorite news channels, it’s still extremely popular. According to the BBC, there are around 41 million people vaping all around the globe. Most of those people live in the United States, United Kingdom, and France.
Read more from the BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44295336
Vaping and Oral Health
We know that vaping can be extremely addictive, but can it negatively affect your teeth and gums? The short answer is yes. Vaping can lead to increase of risks of heart disease and higher risks of seizure, according to CNET. However, vaping can also increase your risk of cavities and tooth decay. New York periodontist Scott Froum, D.D.S., deducted that his patients who were partaking in e-cigarettes were experiencing higher levels of tooth decay and decay of the enamel.
A study conducted in 2018 reasoned that people who smoke and vape experience much higher levels of gum inflammation than people who abstain from smoking in either form. So, why are people experiencing more cavities and tooth decay from vaping?
Vaping Leads to Higher Bacteria
Health.com spoke with Matthew Messina, DDS and spokesperson for the American Dental Association. He said, “[With vaping] we’re providing heat in the mouth, which changes the bacterial presence in the mouth. It dries the mouth out.” When you heat up the mouth, you’re creating an environment that is ideal for bacteria. When you get an excess of bacteria in the mouth, you can experience cavities and gum disease.
Vape juice often contains a few main ingredients:
- Propylene glycol
- Vegetable glycerin
- Nicotine
When these ingredients are heated up and enter the mouth, they carry a huge number of bacteria – almost four times as much bacteria as what’s in your mouth. Propylene glycol is an alcohol-type substance that, although it is FDA approved, can cause dry mouth. When you experience dry mouth, you are also more susceptible to cavities and tooth decay.
According to a study on E-cigarettes conducted in 2018, vaping can cause a growth in cell damage and speed up aging. When this happens, you can experience tooth decay, bad breath, gum disease, dry mouth, and more. Learn more about the correlation between gum disease and heart disease, here.
How Vaping can Ruin Your Teeth: https://www.cnet.com/news/how-vaping-may-ruin-your-teeth/
More on Vaping and Oral Health: https://dentistryinsider.tamhsc.edu/vaping-and-oral-health/
To help decrease your risk for vape-related oral issues, try:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day
- Flossing
- Drinking water after vaping
- Reducing your nicotine intake
If you are experiencing toothache, bleeding or inflamed gums, ulcers, loose teeth, or other concerning oral heath issues and partake in vaping, please come see us at GPS Dental, we offer affordable dental care in the San Antonio, TX area.
Dr. Gary P. Skrobanek’s experienced and friendly team at GPS Dental offers affordable dental care for all ages in San Antonio, TX area. Our Brooks City Base dentist office is conveniently located and offers early morning appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At GPS Dental, we promote dental health awareness to our patients and provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to dental implants, sleep apnea, TMJ / TMD Treatment, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at 210-633-3477 to make an appointment.
