Oral Health and Vaping
CAN E-CIGARETTES AFFECT YOUR GUMS AND TEETH?
Oral Health and Vaping Cheltenham
Tobacco’s effects on teeth and gums are well-known among smokers.
Even with good brushing habits, tobacco can discolour teeth yellow or brown.
And because e-cigarettes do not leave stains like tobacco, it’s no surprise they’ve become a popular smoking alternative.
Vaping, on the other hand, causes a distinct set of oral health issues.
Vaping’s Negative Side Effects
Despite the absence of tobacco in e-cigarettes, they do contain nicotine, which causes injury to all areas of your mouth.
Gum diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are caused by nicotine from vaping. Vaping causes your mouth to dry up, making it difficult for your body to eliminate microorganisms, leading to tooth decay naturally.
Gum bleeding and poor smell are common early signs. And because nicotine reduces blood supply to the area, gum recession caused by infection can be difficult to detect. It can be difficult to detect if your gums are inflamed because they don’t appear swollen.
Because nicotine is a muscle stimulant, vaping can exacerbate problems like bruxism (tooth grinding). While awake or asleep, grinding might occur. Our dentists will need to keep an eye on your teeth to check if there is any indication of grinding damage.
Vaping Makes Fighting Bacteria Difficult
Gum recession is caused by nicotine. Nicotine slows and inhibits blood flow to blood vessels. As a result, your gums will peel away from the roots of your teeth, causing gum disease and ultimately tooth loss. E-cigarettes can potentially mask periodontal disease symptoms.
Because decreased blood circulation affects the mouth’s ability to fight infection and bacteria, decay and gum disease will worsen. E-cigarettes may cause tooth loss and other health concerns in the long run.
Dental Symptoms to Be Aware of If You Vape
You may avoid gingivitis and more serious periodontal disease if you vape. However, the more you vape, the more likely you will develop major mouth and general health issues. After all, vaping is still relatively new, with no long-term research to back it up.
Other issues that you may encounter with e-cigarettes are as follows:
- Gums that are red or bleeding
- Chronic foul breath
- Wobbly teeth
- Loss of teeth
- Gum recession
- Periodontal disease
It is vital to schedule frequent dental appointments if you vape. Maintaining a watchful check on your teeth and gums will help to prevent future problems.
How Do I Stop Vaping?
While quitting isn’t an exact science, there are a variety of approaches and ideas you may use to help you succeed!
If you’ve ever been or have previously been a smoker, you know how difficult quitting can be. Vaping, like smoking, maybe a difficult habit to break and may necessitate some soul searching and help.
Some valuable advice and items to think about when quitting are included below:
- Determine your motivation by focusing on a certain objective.
- Think about the timing.
- Having a positive support group that will encourage and hold you accountable will help you quit vaping.
- Identify triggers by learning to notice what makes you want to vape. This will give you the tools you need to change your habits.
- Make a strategy. Finding a replacement activity for vaping is one of the most successful ways that has helped many individuals in the past.
- It is prudent to take advantage of the many tools accessible to you at this time. Nicotine patches, gums, and other nicotine replacements, often known as nicotine replacement therapy, can help to reduce the intense nicotine dependence created by vaping gradually.
Treating Vaping-Related Dental Issues in Cheltenham
While vaping has helped reduce the number of tobacco users worldwide by giving a safer alternative to smoking, safer does not always imply safe!
Remember when we said that vaping promotes gum disease? If you continue to vape, you risk harming your teeth and acquiring new or perhaps unknown health concerns in the future.
It’s reasonable if you’re a former smoker who has switched to vaping as a smoking substitute. Although we strongly advise you to take the required steps to break the habit, vaping is not the harmless alternative that many people imagine it to be.
However, if you’ve never smoked and want to try vaping, don’t! In addition to hurting your dental health, vaping is very addictive, and once hooked, it may be challenging to quit.
Please do not hesitate to contact your Cheltenham dentist if you need periodontal treatment.
If you have any further concerns regarding vaping or would want to make an appointment, please contact us at (03) 9583 5506 or visit us at Suite C, 151 Centre Dandenong Road in Cheltenham.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will quitting smoking help my gums?
Yes. The good news is that persons who stop smoking have the same risk of gum disease and respond to gum care as nonsmokers.
Don’t be surprised if your gums bleed more after you quit smoking. Consult a dentist or a dental hygienist. They can also demonstrate how to care for your teeth at home properly.
What is the impact of vaping on teeth and gums?
According to current studies, vaping can have several detrimental impacts on your teeth and gums.
Among these effects are the following:
- excess bacteria
- dry mouth
- inflamed gums
- mouth and throat irritation
- cell death