If the vaporizer is generally considered a good alternative to cigarettes, all health professionals agree that it comes with certain risks. It is well known that cigarettes are harmful to oral health. However, recent studies have revealed that the electronic version of cigarettes is not much better for your mouth.
The Centre Dentaire & D’implantologie Boucherville tells you all about these studies and the risks associated with using a vaporizer. Your south-shore dentist warns you about habits that are detrimental to your oral health.
Undesirable Effects
Of course, the electronic cigarette has the advantage of not containing tobacco, which causes a multitude of oral problems. However, the absence of tobacco does not always mean the absence of nicotine, harmful to your health as well. Thus, look for e-liquids that do not contain any nicotine as much as possible.
Moreover, nicotine is not the only culprit: the presence of certain other chemicals in the electronic cigarette is also harmful to your teeth.
This is the case of propylene glycol, which increases the risk of dryness. Indeed, many dentists have noticed that patients who vape reported symptoms such as dryness and oral irritation.
Dry mouth is not only unpleasant, it can lead to several consequences, including sores and infections. Since saliva actively helps fight bacteria, a dry mouth is conversely more vulnerable. Gum disease and cavities can develop much more quickly.
In fact, you may have already learned that sweets are partly responsible for tooth decay from an early age. This is one of the reasons why moderate consumption of sweet foods and drinks is often recommended.
But did you know that e-liquids contain sugar? Just because this substance reaches your mouth in the form of vapor does not mean that this sugar does not affect your teeth, quite the contrary. Sugar in all its forms sticks to the teeth; bacteria then transform it into a destructive acid that attacks your enamel.
This is how electronic cigarettes considerably increase the risk of cavities, not to mention the acceleration of this effect by a dry mouth.
The entire oral cavity is covered and protected by a large number of protective cells. However, it has recently been observed that the vaporizer causes an aging and premature death of these cells. By smoking 15 minutes per day for three days, the proportion of dead cells increased from 2% (non-smokers), to 18%, to 40%, then to 53%!
Not surprisingly, insufficient protection increases the risk of infections, inflammation, fungi, and even oral cancer. Just like tobacco, e-liquids are therefore carcinogenic.
Thus, your teeth as well as your gums are more at risk of developing various ailments and diseases. The vaporizer has been developed and presented as an ideal alternative to cigarettes, but the more studies progress, the more this idea turns out to be illusory.
Sure, the absence of tobacco and tar means less risk of yellowing and staining, but that’s about the only benefit. To promote better oral health, it’s best to refrain from smoking altogether – and never start, no matter how attractive the vaping machine is.
Personalized Advice for a Healthy Mouth
Whatever your habits, don’t hesitate to discuss them with our dental health professionals. Your dentist in Boucherville will give you sound advice and information to help you maintain the best possible oral health. Education and prevention are an integral part of our team’s daily routine, and we want to help you!
Make an appointment for a routine examination and cleaning or if you experience any abnormal symptoms. The team at the Centre Dentaire & D’implantologie Boucherville is waiting for you!