How Vaping Affects Your Dental Health

While vaping has been touted as a better alternative to cigarettes, it can still have a variety of adverse effects on the health of your mouth. While e-cigarettes may not contain all of the harmful ingredients found in traditional cigarettes, they still contain various chemicals that can impact your oral health. In this blog, we’ll discuss some of the ways that vaping and nicotine can harm your teeth and gums and tips for maintaining your dental health.

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Is Vaping Better Than Smoking Cigarettes?

Nearly 70% of smokers say that they want to quit. But as any smoker can attest, it’s something much easier said than done. Many people on the quest to stop smoking have turned to e-cigarettes, or vaping, to ease the transition to quitting smoking altogether. Vaping is when you inhale vaporized aerosol that primarily contains nicotine and flavors, as well as other (potentially damaging) chemicals. While it may be true that vaping exposes you to fewer toxins than traditional cigarettes, there are still harmful chemicals in vape cartridges that affect both your physical and dental health. 

How Does Nicotine Harm Your Dental Health?

Nicotine is incredibly bad for your oral health, affecting literally every part of your mouth, starting with your teeth. Nicotine and tar in cigarettes stain your teeth yellow and, eventually, brown. The sticky tar makes it easier for bacteria to adhere to your teeth, increasing the buildup of plaque and tartar on your teeth. Additionally, nicotine causes dry mouth, which means you have less saliva to help wash away food and bacteria, giving you bad breath and contributing to tartar and plaque buildup. The result is not only tooth decay but gum disease. Left untreated, both tooth decay and gum disease will eventually cause tooth loss.  

Speaking of your gums and other soft tissues of the mouth, nicotine affects the healing process of these after injury or surgery. Nicotine constricts blood vessels, making it more difficult for nutrients to travel through your bloodstream to the site of the injury. This makes it harder for the injury to heal, putting you at higher risk for infection or other complications. 

And if these weren’t enough reasons to stop smoking, keep in mind that smokers are at a much higher risk for developing oral cancer.   

Is Vaping Better for Your Dental Health Than Cigarettes?

Vaping may seem like a better alternative to cigarettes, but e-cigarettes still contain nicotine, so the effects on your teeth and gums caused by the nicotine in cigarettes are the same. Additionally, vape cartridges come in a variety of flavors. The sweet flavor additives act like any other type of sugar, allowing bacteria to more easily stick to your teeth and cause decay. Some flavors also contain acidic ingredients that erode tooth enamel, causing tooth sensitivity. 

How to Avoid Dental Problems if You Vape

For some, vaping is difficult to give up. If that’s the case, here are some tips to help maintain good oral health and prevent nicotine-related harm to your teeth and gums:

• Brush at least twice daily, and floss regularly
• Help keep saliva production up by drinking plenty of water
• Rinse your mouth out after vaping
• Choose vape flavors with less sugary or acidic flavorings

One of the most important ways to keep your mouth healthy, whether you vape or not, is to visit your dentist for regular checkups every six months. Not only will your dentist thoroughly examine your teeth and gums and clean and polish your teeth, but they will also screen for oral cancer and other problems in your mouth. 

Learn More About Dental Care in Schaumburg and Norridge

At Royal Dental Care, our team of skilled and experienced dentists is here to help ensure you have all the information necessary to maintain good oral hygiene. From family dentistry to periodontal care, we offer a wide range of services designed to keep you and your loved ones smiling brightly. To schedule an appointment, call our office today at (773) 232-3929 (Norridge) or (847) 999-7620 (Schaumburg) or complete the online contact form.