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E-Cigarettes: Turns Out This Smoking Alternative Is Worse Than You Thought

16 May 2019 by Lonnie Bryant

Are you aware that, just like cigarettes, vaping can also have detrimental effects on your oral health? While it's the hip trend for the cool kids on the block, it turns out that the use of electronic cigarettes isn't so cool after all. The notion that e-cigarettes are safer than traditional tobacco is derived from the fact they don't contain tobacco and that they produce an aerosol often referred to as vapour. 

While vaping is marketed as a safer option, it still leads to huge oral health implications due to the inhalation of various types of metal and chemical particles. Here are some oral side effects of using electronic cigarettes and why you should avoid them.

They Contribute to Teeth Staining  

While substituting e-cigarettes for combustible tobacco reduces your exposure to various toxins, they still contribute to the yellowing of teeth since they contain nicotine. Although your teeth won't stain as badly as they would with use of regular cigarettes, your teeth will eventually turn from a set of healthy pearly whites to unhealthy darkened teeth.

They Increase the Risk of Gum Disease 

E-cigarettes can be just as bad for your gums as regular tobacco cigarettes. This is so because the vapour could lead to inflammation of gums and often lead to oral health problems. The nicotine and other chemicals contained in e-cigarettes also limit oxygen and blood flow to your gums, hence increasing the risk of gum disease. Vaping will also choke the tissue in your mouth, and increased usage can lead to loss of tissue that supports your teeth. 

The terrifying part is that you might not even know that vaping is affecting your gums because the symptoms might not be so severe. 

They Can Cause Dry Mouth 

Even though many teenagers and your adults switch to vaping as a better option to smoking tobacco cigarettes, the truth is that excessive vaping leads to dehydration, which in turn leads to a dry mouth. This is because the vapour produced attracts water molecules, hence leaving you with a dry mouth. A dry mouth can increase the risk of infection, inflammation and gum disease. 

If you are looking to switch from smoking regular tobacco to using e-cigarettes, it's important to watch out for signs of oral health complications. It is also important to note that continued usage of e-cigarettes can lead to oral cancer. If you are experiencing one or more the above-highlighted side effects or are concerned about the oral effects of vaping, then you need to visit a dentist to determine if you need dental treatment.

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