Can Vaping Hurt My Smile?

Over the past few months, you’ve been vaping with your friends more frequently. It all feels so harmless, but at your checkup appointment, your dentist in Kernersville tells you that you have several cavities. Could your use of e-cigarettes be to blame?

When you were growing up, schools and communities emphasized the dangers of smoking both for your health and your appearance. In addition to causing several kinds of cancers and damage to the lungs, cigarettes clearly have a negative impact on a person’s smile. In the past decade, vaping products have become very popular, particularly among young people, but are they really as harmless as they seem?  At first glance, vaping can appear to be a healthy, safe alternative to traditional cigarettes; however, this trending habit can still be detrimental to your smile.

Ingredients to Avoid

Although some of cigarettes’ carcinogenic ingredients like tar are not present in vaping products, there are still plenty of other ingredients to worry about.

Nicotine

E-cigarettes utilize juices that create vaporized nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance. Over the many years of researching smoking, researchers have shown that nicotine also stains teeth with repeated exposure. This means that when you vape, you can discolor your smile, especially with consistent use, and brushing on your own may not be enough to remove these deep-set stains.

Propylene Glycol

As a base liquid in e-cigarettes, propylene glycol is a compound that causes dryness in the mouth. Not only can a dry mouth be uncomfortable and leave you with bad breath on a regular basis, but it creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria to multiply and wreak havoc on your smile through cavities, mouth sores, and gum disease. These conditions may start out subtle and painless, but they can quickly escalate, potentially even causing tooth loss.

Ways to Prevent Damage from Vaping

Ideally, the best way to make sure that vaping doesn’t impact your smile is to avoid it altogether. Ending the habit, or not starting the habit in the first place, can greatly reduce your risk of oral problems. However, if you choose to vape, here are some tips for keeping your smile healthy.

• Avoid vaping on a consistent basis.
• Choose low-nicotine, nicotine-free, or unflavored juices.
• Drink water after you vape to rinse your mouth.
• Make sure you brush and floss every day.
• Visit your dentist in Kernersville regularly.

In the end, although vaping may be better than traditional smoking, it doesn’t mean that it’s harmless. Vaping poses a threat to your oral health, and the risks simply may not be worth taking for momentary pleasure. The next time you and your friends want to vape together, consider how it can impact your smile in the long term.

About the Author

After graduating from dental school in 2017, Dr. Zack Walker completed the Advanced Education in General Dentistry program in Elizabeth City through the East Caroline University School of Dental Medicine. He is a member of both the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. If you have questions about the effect that vaping can have on your smile, you can contact Dr. Walker by clicking here.