Sciota, Pennsylvania
More and more people have turned to vaping, thinking it’s a safe alternative to traditional smoking. But when it comes to oral health, vaping is anything but safe. Our family dentists at Quiet Valley in Sciota are concerned about your oral and overall health and are sharing today the dangerous consequences of vaping.
What’s vaping?
Vaping is a nicotine or cannabis delivery system that uses electronic cigarettes to turn a flavored liquid, or “vape juice,” into an aerosol vapor that is inhaled.
What’s being inhaled:
- Heavy metals like cadmium and zinc
- Harmful agents, such as benzene and acrolein, that provide flavor
- Nicotine or cannabis, both of which raise heart rate, elevate blood pressure and suppress the immune system.
The different flavors of vaping liquids appeal to non-smokers and young people, in particular. An alarming number of young people are vaping; in fact, reports from the Food and Drug Administration show that nearly one million young people use e-cigarettes daily with a staggering 1.6 million vaping more than 20 times a month.
While the dangers of smoking tobacco have been widely publicized, we don’t hear as much about how vaping contributes to oral health issues, in particular.
What effect does vaping have on the body?
If someone is vaping as a substitute for cigarettes, the vape still contains nicotine, the highly addictive substance in tobacco. Inhaled repeatedly over time, a vape or e-cig will damage epithelial cells in the lungs, leading to a condition known as “popcorn lung.” This happens when the smallest airways in your lungs sustain damage, making you cough and prone to shortness of breath.
How does vaping affect the teeth and mouth?
Vaping works by mixing nicotine with a flavoring agent and combining those ingredients with vegetable glycerin as a solvent. Vegetable glycerin is a slightly sticky, liquid sweetener that adheres to the teeth and gums. This creates the perfect condition for bacteria and plaque to accumulate and multiply on the surface of the teeth, exponentially increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. What’s more: the flavors in the vaping liquid decrease the hardness of tooth enamel.
Vapes and e-cigs use lithium batteries and heat to work, usually operating between 250 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit. If the vape malfunctions, your oral cavity and mouth are vulnerable to burns and tissue damage.
Preventative Dental Care in Sciota, PA
Whether from cigarettes or vaping, nicotine is harmful to your teeth and gums and, among many other health problems, can lead to oral cancer. Call our Quiet Valley Dental office at (570) 865-7850, or reach us online today to schedule a checkup and oral cancer screening.
