How Does Vaping Affect Your Oral Health?

Vaping has gained popularity among young adults in Canada, which is evident in the fact that more than 275,000 young adults 20-24 years and 400,000 six to twelfth-grade teens have vaped in the past 30 days.

Have you ever wondered, "Does vaping hurt your teeth?" Keep reading to learn how what people may consider an alternative to smoking can discolour your pearly whites while increasing bacteria in the mouth, causing tooth decay, inflammation, oral cancer, and gum disease.

How Does Vaping Hurt Your Teeth

Canada legalized vaping in 2018. In 2019, the number of Canadian teens vaping increased by 74%. Does your vape taste good? The vape products have an average of 22 chemicals and nine flavouring chemicals.

Inhaling chemicals through the mouth and lungs impacts your oral hygiene. The Canadian Dental Association continuously monitors the effect of vaping on teeth, the mouth, and overall health.

Are you drinking energy drinks or soda? For centuries, the risk of cavities has been the foods you eat and poor brushing. This has increased with vaping.

Propylene glycol (PG)

One of the main ingredients in vape juice is propylene glycol (PG), which breaks down into acids. PG takes away saliva, leaving you with a dry mouth. The sugar in beverages you drink feeds on the acid and bacteria in your mouth, eroding your tooth enamel, which leads to cavities and gum disease.

Nicotine

The nicotine in your vape restricts blood flow to the gums. This reduces the body's ability to replenish tissue and fight infection. This increases the risk of tooth loss and gum disease.

Vegetable glycerin (VG)

Are you noticing white spots on your teeth ? Vegetable glycerin (VG) is a sweetener used for vape flavours. It can contribute to streptococcus mutans adhering to the tooth's biting surface grooves. Streptococcus mutans can be identified by a chalky white spot on the surface, indicating demineralization of tooth enamel. This demineralization can cause loss of tooth enamel, increase tooth decay, infections and tooth loss.

Does Vaping Cause Yellow Teeth?

Both nicotine and propylene glycol in the vape juice can stain your teeth. These stains cannot be removed by brushing.

When vaping, nicotine becomes trapped in tooth enamel and turns yellow when exposed to oxygen. Teeth discoloration from vaping can be black, brown, or yellow. The discoloration depends on the type of e-juice in the vape.

Caring for Teeth

Your dentist is aware of the impact vaping has on your oral hygiene. They are trained to detect oral cancer, gum disease, and tooth decay.

To help offset vaping dangers, brush twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste and floss daily. Use mouthwash for dry mouth, and limit sugary beverages and foods. Have dental checkups at least once a year.

Keep Good Oral Hygiene With Northland Village Dental Centre in NW Calgary

In answering the question, "Does vaping hurt your teeth?" we've shown the risks of vaping to your teeth and overall health. Whether you vape, smoke cigarettes, or don't use either, professional dental care is essential to maintaining healthy teeth.

Northland Village Dental Centre is dedicated to providing optimal care to every patient in NW Calgary and surrounding regions. Make an appointment with us today.