Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, also called vapes, have been around since about 2003. They are an alternative to smoking cigarettes, but instead of inhaling smoke, the user inhales vapor. Like traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes contain nicotine but can also contain flavorings.
While a large portion of e-cigarette users are recreational users, some use e-cigarettes as they believe e-cigarettes are a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. E-cigarettes are also less expensive than cigarettes, have lower odors, and can comply with smoke-free laws.
E-cigarettes, however, are not good for a person’s overall health or their oral health.
Nicotine, whether inhaled in a traditional cigarette or an e-cigarette is highly addictive, with users becoming both physically and psychologically dependent.1 The overall health effects of e-cigarettes are hard for researchers to evaluate as many people use both traditional and e-cigarettes and e-cigarettes have only been widely used in the past few years with global e-cigarette users increasing from 7 million in 2011 to 82 million in 2021.2
A National Health Interview Survey reported that in the U.S. in 2021 4.5 percent of adults aged 18 and over were current e-cigarette users, with most users between the ages of 18 and 24.3 Adults aren’t the only ones vaping. A U.S. Food and Drug Administration/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found that 2.55 million U.S. middle and high school students reported current e-cigarette use in 2022.4
In addition to nicotine addiction, vaping can cause inflammation and irritation of the lungs, leading to scarring and narrowing of the tubes that bring air in and out of the lungs.5 Vaping can also cause asthma, or make existing asthma worse, and can lead to a fatal lung condition called EVALI. Some ingredients in e-cigarettes are also known cancer-causing agents.
Dental Health
Vaping also cause oral health issues. Dental research has “shown ties between e-cigarette use and increased markers for gum disease, and separately, damage to the tooth’s enamel or outer shell” 6
Cavity Prone
A first-of-its-kind study of 13,000 patients by Tufts University, published in the Journal of the America Dental Association in December 2022, found that there is an increased risk of cavities for e-cigarette users.
Tufts researchers found that 79 percent of the vaping patients were categorized as having high-cavity risk, compared to just about 60 percent of the control group. The researchers believe that the sugary content and viscosity of vaping liquid sticks to the teeth much like acidic drinks and hard candies.
Tooth Decay
E-cigarettes use aerosols to deliver smoke vapor and those aerosols can change the oral microbiome, causing it to be a friendlier environment for decay-causing bacteria. Dentists are also seeing tooth decay in the bottom edges of the front teeth of e-cigarette users, which isn’t a routine place for dental decay.
For those using e-cigarettes it is recommended that they see the dentist more frequently than twice per year and that their dentists might want to order prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste and fluoride rinse or in-office fluoride applications.
In addition, e-cigarette users should pay close attention to their oral hygiene routine, including brushing twice a day for a minimum of two minutes at a time, flossing and using a fluoride rinse daily, and limiting sugary and acidic foods and beverages.
Maintain Optimal Dental Health with your Dentist
Keeping up on your teeth and dental health whether you vape or not is highly recommended especially if you don’t want oral health problems. Contact Sedki Dentistry in Commerce Twp today and speak with one of our exceptional dental staff about your oral health concerns.
Dr. Sedki provides all inclusive dentistry services including cosmetic dentistry and dental treatments and restoration. We can help you stay on track for a healthy mouth, with strong teeth, a bright smile and healthy gums. Set up a Free Dental Consultation today!
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1, 2 Electronic cigarette
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_cigarette.
3 Current Electronic Cigarette Use Among Adults Aged 18 and Over: United States, 2021, 7/2023
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db475.htm#:~:text=%E2%80%A2White%20non-Hispanic%20(subsequently,
4 More than 2.5 Million Youth Reported E-Cigarette Use in 2022, 10/6/2022
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p1007-e-cigarette-use.html
5 Vaping (E-Cigarettes)
Link: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21162-vaping
6Using Vapes May Set the Stage for Dental Decay by Helene Rogovin, 11/23/2022
Link: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21162-vaping