Dangers of Vaping To Your Oral Health

A man blowing smoke while vaping black and white image

A big marketing strategy by e-cigarettes companies to increase sales is the notion that e-cigarettes are safer than regular cigarettes. The reasoning behind this marketing strategy is that an e-cigarette’s oil is cleaner and doesn’t use smoke. They also say the smoke does not have chemicals in it that produce carcinogens that then enter your body. Nicotine enters your body from an oil vapor. “Vaping” may be marketed as safe, but it can, unfortunately, have huge oral health implications.

In 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded that e-cigarettes have not been fully studied. Consumers know there are potential risks of e-cigarettes when used as intended but may not know what they are. This is a serious problem. There are many e-cigarette users that have no idea what kind of harm they are doing to their bodies, including their oral health.

What Are the Effects of Vaping on Gum Health?

Severely damaged teeth from vaping
Effects of e-cigarette use

Even without extensive research by the government on the negative effects of vaping, we know that e-cigarettes do cause problems. Their main purpose is still to deliver nicotine to your body and that can cause harm to your mouth, gums, and tongue. Nicotine may also contribute significantly to the development of gingivitis and periodontitis, which can cause bad breath and infections which can, in turn, start going into the rest of your body. Here are some other ways nicotine from vaping can impact your oral health:

Causes Gum Recession

Nicotine reduces the amount of blood that can flow through your veins. Without sufficient blood flow, your gums don’t get the oxygen and nutrients they need to stay healthy. Nicotine basically chokes the tissues in your mouth from the blood that they need to survive. This in turn causes the gum recession. A Gum recession treatment is necessary to repair your gums and eliminate any tooth sensitivity.

Masks The Symptoms of Gum Disease

Nicotine can hide the symptoms of gum disease, making it harder to diagnose. When you have gum disease your gums become inflamed from the increased blood flow. As mentioned, nicotine reduces the amount of blood flow in your veins which makes diagnosing gum disease harder. If the progression of gum disease can’t be observed, diagnosed, and treated then things go from bad to worse rather quickly!

Causes Bad Breath

Nicotine inhibits your body’s ability to produce saliva. With a lack of saliva, you are more susceptible to bacteria buildup, dry mouth, and tooth decay—all major causes of bad breath! Chewing gum and mouth wash can hide bad breath only temporarily as the root cause isn’t treated.

If you’re thinking about using e-cigarettes or already use them, you’ve got to watch out for the signs of gum disease. But as we have explained, nicotine reduces the appearance of symptoms so it is a lot more difficult to determine. If you are concerned about your oral health due to the use of e-cigarettes, come into Dental Partners of Boston for a consultation. Dr. Guzman is our resident periodontist who can determine if you have gum disease that would need to be treated.

Ultimately the best prevention method of gum disease from vaping is to avoid the habit altogether. It’s best to avoid any product that includes nicotine. If you show signs of gum disease from vaping and are willing to break the habit, visit our Boston dental office. Visiting every three months for a period of time allows Dr. Guzman to treat and monitor the removal of any gum disease.  

All of the dentists and staff at Dental Partners of Boston truly care about your oral health. You should as well! Give our Boston dental practice a call or schedule an appointment today. We can help you to improve your smile and live a healthy happy life!

Related Posts