Are vape pens becoming as prevalent at the iPhone? Geez, let’s hope not! Surely you have seen them everywhere, especially places where cigarettes are banned, like at the mall or indoor venues. It’s a rising trend among the younger generation, and many people use vaping as a stepping stone to quitting their smoking habit. Deemed “safer” than traditional cigarettes because of the lack of tobacco and ability to control nicotine levels, vaping still comes with its own set of risks. Bad news for your mouth!
You might be thinking, what the heck is vaping? Let’s quickly cover the basics. Vaping is the method of inhaling and exhaling (smoking) water vapor from an “electronic nicotine delivery system” (ENDS) such as a vape pen or e-cigarette. The ENDS converts a liquid mixture containing nicotine into an aerosol. This tobacco-free gadget was invented in China and made its way to the U.S. in the mid 2000’s. Only recently has the FDA begun regulating ENDS and requiring e-liquid products to come with a warning label about nicotine’s addictive qualities.
Cold Hard Facts
According to a recent study conducted by scientists at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, “significant amounts of toxic metals, including lead, leak from some e-cigarette heating coils and are present in the aerosols inhaled by users. They found that significant numbers of the devices generated aerosols with potentially unsafe levels of lead, chromium, manganese and/or nickel. Chronic inhalation of these metals has been linked to lung, liver, immune, cardiovascular and brain damage, and even cancers.”
University of Rochester performed a study concluding that “vaping damages the gum tissues just as much as tobacco cigarettes. The vapors from an e-cigarette are heated and, when inhaled, come in contact with the oral cavity, causing the cells in the mouth to release inflammatory proteins. This aggravates stress within these cells and results in damage that could lead to various oral diseases.”
How vaping affects your mouth…
In addition to toxic metals emitted from the vaping device, e-liquid contains a mixture of harmful chemicals, nicotine being the biggest offender. This is where the negative effects of vaping and oral health come into play. Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, which means it diminishes blood flow in your veins. When this occurs, your gums don’t receive a sufficient supply of blood, which deprives them of oxygen and nutrients needed to survive. This can cause receding gums. Additionally, nicotine’s vasoconstricting properties can mask the symptoms of gum disease by covering up the common symptoms of bleeding and swollen gums.
Below are some not so pleasant side effects of vaping.
Chemical burns: Vaping devices are battery-powered so they can overheat, possibly exploding during use and causing severe burns or deformation. People have been hospitalized with critical injuries from malfunctioning vaping devices.
Coughing: A “smoker’s cough” is still possible from vaping even though there’s no tobacco. Inhaling the vapor into your lungs, a reaction from the synthetic chemicals, and the strength of the e-liquid are all contributing factors.
Dry mouth: Vaping dries out the mouth because the chemical Propylene Glycol absorbs moisture in your mouth and dries it out. Dry mouth is a top cause of tooth decay.
Stomatitis: This occurs when the cell lining of the mouth, particularly the palate, becomes inflamed, which can lead to painful lesions.
If you have questions or concerns about the oral effects from vaping, call us at 954-344-4488, or complete an online appointment request to schedule your consultation.