How Vaping Negatively Affects Your Oral Health

Vaping and e-cigarettes have spread quicker and faster than coronavirus did. Ok, maybe not as fast, but these days it is hard to go in public and not see someone holding their Juul. Vaping has become an alternative to cigarettes, which eliminates the health concerns that come from tobacco. However, vaping and e-cigarettes might have even more health concerns due to the unstudied chemicals that do not have the long history of health effects that cigarettes do have. To say it simply: the unknown factors of vaping makes it even more dangerous. There have been more recent studies about how vaping affects your oral health, which Cakmes Dental Studios has been paying attention to. Here are some adverse effects that vaping has on oral health.

Receding Gums

Nicotine reduces blood flow, which in turn affects your gums more than you may think. Without enough blood flowing through your veins, your gums don’t get the oxygen and nutrients they need to stay healthy. Vaping causes the death of gum tissues, which in turn causes gum recession. 

Tooth Decay

Studies have evaluated that e-cigarette aerosols have similar physio-chemical properties as high-sucrose, gelatinous candies, and acidic drinks. Data suggests that the combination of the viscosity of e-liquids and chemicals in sweet flavors may increase the risk of cariogenic potential. Cariogenic potential in non-scientist talk is the potential for tooth decay.

Bruxism

Nicotine inhaled during vaping acts as a muscle stimulant. This can cause you to grind your teeth, which is also known as bruxism. Grinding, chewing, or clenching your teeth regularly leads to tooth damage, severe pain, and other oral complications. 

Cell Death

According to a 2018 review, studies of live cells from human gums suggest vaping aerosols can increase inflammation and DNA damage. This can lead cells to lose their power to divide and grow, which can speed up cell aging and result in cell death.

These are just a few of many health concerns scientists have uncovered about vaping and its relation with oral health. If you are an e-cigarette user, you must have regular check-ins with your dentist to make sure you can prevent as much damage as possible. At Cakmes Dental Studio, we offer many services to keep your teeth clean and healthy. Call (865) 584-6163 and schedule an appointment if you have any concerns.