Ask a Dentist: Can Vaping Affect My Teeth?

Let's check in with a dentist to talk about vaping and your teeth.

Can vaping affect my teeth?

Even though vaping is better for your overall health than smoking cigarettes, there is still concern about its use because researchers do not know much about the potential dangers associated with vaping.

According to a 2018 research conducted at Johns Hopkins University, e-cigarettes can potentially release significant amounts of toxic materials, which are inhaled by users. The research also revealed that a high number of e-cigarettes released vapors with unsafe levels of manganese, chromium, nickel and lead.

The fact that the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate e-cigarettes makes it difficult to determine the ingredients used in them because manufacturers are not required by law to list the ingredients, which means the only way to know what is in them is if one of the manufacturers decides to release the information.

To answer the question, vaping does affect your oral health because e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is the active ingredient in cigarettes.

What effect does nicotine have on my teeth?

Studies have shown that nicotine is harmful to your mouth and gums and can lead to the development of gingivitis and more serious gum disease.

Here are the effects nicotine has on your oral health.

Causes gum recession: Nicotine reduces the blood flow in your veins, which means that your gums do not get the required amount of nutrients and oxygen that they need to stay healthy. Restricting blood flow can cause the death of gum tissues.

Hides gum disease: The effect that nicotine has on your mouth makes it difficult for dentists to spot signs of gum disease because the blood flow to the gums is what usually tips off dentists to gum disease. When you have gum disease, your gums are irritated and swell with blood, which leads to bleeding when you are brushing and flossing your teeth. With nicotine restricting the blood flow to your gums, your gums will appear to be normal during your examination, making your dentist think everything is fine.

Causes bad breath: Another effect that nicotine has on your oral health is bad breath. The restriction of blood flow to the gums, caused by nicotine use, also restricts the production of saliva. If your mouth is not producing enough saliva, it leads to the buildup of bacteria in your mouth, leaving you with a dry mouth and bad breath.

Damages teeth: Nicotine is a stimulant that has been linked to bruxism, also known as teeth grinding. If you smoke or vape, you are more likely to grind your teeth in your sleep. Grinding your teeth can eventually lead to tooth damage, which will require a trip to the dentist to fix.

Conclusion

Vaping is safer than smoking cigarettes, but the nicotine it comes with can damage your teeth. If you are considering switching to e-cigarettes for health reasons, make sure you look for signs of gum disease and schedule regular visits with your dentist.

Request an appointment here: or call Gilroy Dental Associates at (408) 842-2818 for an appointment in our Gilroy office.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.