Bad habits can have an adverse effect on both your overall and oral health in time.

Most people are aware of the negative effects of smoking. Chemicals found in tobacco (nicotine, tar, etc.) are well known to cause many oral, lung, and heart conditions. Many people have switched to “Vaping” as a newer alternative to smoking cigarettes.

Vaping is used as both an alternative to smoking and to stop smoking since it is thought to be less harmful than cigarettes. Vaping tends to have lower blood nicotine concentrations than smoking, but it is difficult to make a direct comparison since nicotine concentrations in e-cigarettes vary widely. Vaping can be done anywhere and is not prohibited in public, smoke-free areas so is more convenient than smoking. Irresponsible marketing has made e-cigarettes appealing to a large number of people who would have not smoked before. Vaping is especially popular and trending amongst the younger population, with the numbers rising rapidly.

The Negative Oral Effects of Vaping:

E-cigarettes, or vape pens use an electric current to heat a sweetened liquid and create an aerosol. The liquid in the e-cigarette or vape pen, called e-liquid, is usually made up of propylene glycol, glycerin, flavorings, water, and nicotine (or THC as a nicotine substitute). The aerosol, often mistaken for water vapor, is inhaled by the user. This aerosol consists of fine particles contain varying amounts of toxic chemicals, which have been linked to cancer, as well as respiratory and heart disease.

Propylene Glycol

Propylene glycol is the carrier product in vape pens. PG is the substance used in the formation of polymers in artificial food products. This substance is used in food processing and you can find it in ice-cream, liquid sweeteners, and whipped cream. PG is also used by pharmaceutical companies to make inhalants like asthma pumps and nicotine sprays. PG is a thick syrup that produces a faint sweet essence in the vapor and is the main ingredient in vape pens. When you use a vape pen, PG breaks down into vapour and leaves a trail of substances in the mouth from the reaction like acetic acid, lactic acid, and propionaldehyde. All of these substances are poisonous to the internal soft tissues of the oral cavity. Tissue desiccation can be caused by the hygroscopic nature of PG, which means that the water molecules in the mouth attach to the vape residue. This leads to drying up of the mouth and build-up of more acid. It results in extensive cavities and gum inflammation. Ingestion of propylene glycol could cause irritation, burning sensations to the throat and mouth, nausea and vomiting.

Vegetable Glycerin and Flavourings

Another harmful component of the vape pen liquid is glycerin and flavouring substances. A major compound in the vape pen liquid is vegetable glycerin. Vegetable glycerin is a viscous semi-fluid substance that is odorless and colorless. The liquid is sweet, and is used in diverse forms to sweeten the vaping experience but harms your oral health. Vegetable glycerin has a lot of applications in medical, pharmaceutical and personal care products. It is used by food processing plants as a sweetener, solvent, and humectant. 60% of the liquid, consisting of vegetable glycerin and other flavouring substances, is sucrose. This sucrose is left behind by cariogenic bacteria so it won’t give you cancer, but the adhesion of sugar-feeding bacteria on the teeth increases and causes adverse cavities. Upon adding additional flavouring, the liquid becomes corrosive to the enamel and makes it softer. Streptococcus mutans, a kind of cavity-causing bacteria can easily accumulate in cracks and fissures making already soft teeth more vulnerable to cavities and accelerated decay.

Nicotine

Although the nicotine in e-liquid is less than smoking tobacco, there are still effects of nicotine when vaping. Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor and thereby affects the blood flow in your oral tissue and gums. Nicotine also decreases connective tissue turnover. All of this results in a much higher chance of developing gum disease and tooth loss.

Lithium Batteries

Vape pens are powered by a rechargeable lithium battery. Improper charging of the device can cause it to overheat and explode. The explosion of the battery and vape pen can cause serious injury and harm to your lips, face, neck, and oral tissues.

Oral Health Issues

Chemical flavouring substances, glycerin, and nicotine fluid greatly affect the natural habitat of the mouth. There is good and bad bacteria in everyone’s body. Your mouth has good bacteria that defend the teeth and gums from decay-causing bacteria. When the heated up vapors pass through your mouth, it leaves a residue of chemical reactions that reduces the naturally occurring good bacteria. This gives safe passage to the foreign bacteria that harm the soft tissues in the oral cavity. There are a number of oral health issues that can occur with prolonged use of vaping:

Xerostomia

Xerostomia or dry mouth is the most prevalent oral condition with smoking and vaping. The chemical components of the e-liquid make it harder for the immune system to work on the damages of xerostomia. This leads to increased chances and severity of cavities and decay.

Gum Inflammation

The cottonmouth effect of smoking substances causes dehydration of the gum tissues. This allows more plaque accumulation than that of a non-smoking individual. Plaque, since it holds armies of bacteria, affects the gums and the bacteria feeding on the tissues causes a burning sensation in the gums. This can lead to uglier results if a dental hygiene routine is not followed.

Cell Death

Vape pens and e-cigarettes contain aerosol that causes cell degeneration. When aerosol comes in contact with oral tissues, it reduces the capacity of cell regrowth and division. The body has a hard time repairing the damage to the gum tissues. This can result in early ageing of gum tissues and premature loss of teeth and decay.

Smoking tobacco and vaping will turn the mouth acidic and harm oral health. The natural condition of the mouth is supposed to be alkaline. This pH change causes gum and tissue irritation.

Many health conditions occur as a result of vaping. Both your oral health and overall well being can be negatively affected.

Consult our Dentists if you have any concerns with your oral health.

Posted in Dental News & Advice