Although e-cigarettes are said to offer a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, they can still pose a threat to your oral health. Known as vaping, these battery-powered devices produce an aerosol that is inhaled. Until recently, there has been little to no restriction on where these devices can be used. Vaping can be done in most public spaces, as e-cigarettes do not produce smoke that can affect bystanders. The problem with devices like these is that they are still largely untested. Until further studies have been done, it is very difficult to be sure that they do not pose any risk to your overall health and your oral health.
What most dentists will tell you, however, is that e-cigarettes can still cause a number of oral problems, even if they do not emit smoke. This is because they still use nicotine, which is known to affect gums and other soft tissue. Even if smaller doses of nicotine are delivered, vaping will not protect you against gum recession, gum disease, bad breath, tooth decay, oral disease, and other related issues.
How Vaping Affects Your Oral Health
How exactly does vaping affect your oral health? For starters, here are some of the biggest potential risks:
- Gum recession. As nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, blood flow is restricted when nicotine is consumed. Gums and other soft tissue need oxygen and other nutrients in order to stay healthy. When that flow of nutrients and blood is limited, tissue in the mouth and gums is affected. Gum tissue will start to die, resulting in gum recession. Nicotine vapours also release inflammatory proteins that can further cause problems, including oral diseases like periodontitis.
- Dry mouth and tooth decay. This reduction in blood flow also dries out the mouth, causing bad breath and tooth decay. With less blood circulating, the mouth struggles to fight against bacteria. The risk of infection and decay is increased. Over time, tooth loss and other issues become more common.
- Teeth grinding. Because nicotine is a stimulant, muscles are activated whenever it is inhaled or consumed. This can happen with nicotine gum as well as vaping. The result of this stimulation is an increased chance of teeth grinding. If you’re already a grinder, you may start to grinder your teeth more intensely. Even if you have never ground your teeth, you may find that you begin this habit after starting to vape.
- Gum disease. Nicotine typically hides the common symptoms of gum disease, which makes it far harder to diagnose potentially serious issues. One of the most common symptoms is usually increased blood flow, which causes swelling and bleeding. Nicotine restricts blood flow, meaning that this common symptom does not appear. Your dentist may not easily be able to diagnose and treat gum disease, putting you at serious risk.
No device that uses a harmful substance will ever be considered safe or healthy – for your body or your mouth. Vaping may be a better option than smoking, but it is still harmful. If you vape, be sure to watch out for signs of gum disease and schedule regular appointments with your dentist in Durban to keep your oral health in check.