E-Cigarettes: Is Vaping Bad For Your Teeth?

By now, most people know that smoking cigarettes is harmful to the mouth and teeth. Smoking increases your risk for oral cancer, causes bad breath and increases your risk for developing gum disease. As e-cigarettes become more popular, there seems to be less concern on the effects that smoking has on oral health. A common conception tends to be that vaping is less harmful on your body, hence why so many people are making the change from smoking to vaping. 

Vaping simply means that you are smoking out of an e-cigarette rather than a traditional cigarette. Instead of using tobacco, e-cigarettes use an aerosol or vapour to deliver nicotine into the lungs. 

You may be thinking, “aren’t vapes just water vapour? How can that be bad for my teeth?” And you’re not alone in thinking that. 

A common misconception most people have about e-cigarettes is that the aerosol you breathe in is just harmless water vapour. This is not the case. The vapour that you breathe in when using a vape contains not only nicotine, but also ultra-fine particles of toxic chemicals and heavy metals. Many of these chemicals are linked to cancer, respiratory disease and heart disease. 

Nicotine also has plenty of health consequences on its own. Known to cut of blood flow, nicotine prevents blood from flowing through your veins into your teeth and gums. As a result, your teeth will become extremely sensitive and your gums will recede. 

Nicotine also reduces the saliva in your mouth. Saliva is important as it prevents dry mouth, plaque buildup, bad breath, increased bacteria and tooth decay. 

Although e-cigarette don’t contain tobacco, vaping still poses a risk to your oral health. If you’re a smoke or vaper, it’s important to schedule regular dental checkups to maintain your oral health.