Is Vaping Safer for Your Oral Health Than Smoking Cigarettes?
Most smokers know that smoking is bad for their gums and their overall oral health – not to mention their overall health. But what about vaping? Is it a safe option – or at least safer than cigarettes. The short answer is no – it is not safe and the best option is to quit nicotine altogether. Keep reading to get the facts and to learn how your oral health can be affected by vaping.
What Exactly is Vaping?
First, let us be sure you understand what vaping really is. It refers to smoking using an e-cigarette. These cigarettes use vapor to deliver nicotine to the lungs. While many users believe that the vapor is just like water, it is actually an aerosol vapor. This type of vapor has fine particles that have toxic chemicals, many of which have been linked to a wealth of health issues including respiratory disease, heart disease, and cancer.
The Potential Health Issues Involved in Vaping
Do not assume that because e-cigarettes do not have tobacco, they do not have nicotine. The truth is that most vape liquids have nicotine, and all the health aspects of using nicotine are still an issue with vaping. For example, nicotine is one of the most addictive substances known to humankind. It is also a carcinogen that is known to cause cancer.
In addition to causing cancer, nicotine has also been shown to increase tumor growth in lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and breast cancer. While the full long-term effects of vaping are not known because it is still relatively new, the short-term data is clear that it can impact the health of your lungs and the health of your DNA, can damage blood cells, increases the chances of getting heart disease, and has an overall negative impact on the immune system.
The Potential Dental Issues Caused by Vaping
In addition to the potentially deadly issues described above, vaping can also affect your oral health in a few ways. First, nicotine reduces how much blood is able to flow through your body. This can prevent the gums from getting the oxygen and nutrients needed for optimal health. Think of it this way: The nicotine prevents the mouth from getting the blood it needs. Over time, the gum tissue can die off. This is why you are more likely to see gumline recession in smokers than in non-smokers.
Additionally, a person who smokes does not have as much saliva as a non-smoker. This can make it more likely to suffer from dry mouth, tooth decay, and general buildup of bacteria that can cause cavities and gum disease. Finally, nicotine is a muscle stimulant that can make teeth grinding worse – or cause a person to start.
If you are a smoker, your best option is to quit. If you cannot or will not quit, be sure to see your dentist on a regular basis so we can thoroughly clean your teeth and look for issues before they become serious. Contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 now to make an appointment.
