Have you noticed that there always seems to be a fad going around that turns out to have a dark side? A few years ago vaping appeared as a new popular fad among teens and adults, but unfortunately, it seems to be sticking around. Researchers and medical health professionals have begun piling up evidence on why vaping isn’t as innocent as it appears, including negative impacts on oral health.
Allow our team at Mountain West Dental Specialists to be your guide and walk you through all the best reasons to avoid vaping. It isn’t just about your lungs and heart like some people might assume. Vaping can have serious impacts on your oral health, too! Dr. Keaton Tomlin especially wants his teen patients to be protected from the harm it can cause.
What is Vaping?
Vaping is another way to describe smoking e-cigarettes. Different from tobacco, e-cigarettes have an e-liquid or “vape juice” that contains nicotine and other chemicals. Many of them have special flavors and smells that people enjoy trying, enticing them to continue vaping to experience more options. Many people think that because vapes don’t technically contain tobacco that they are a healthier and better option than cigarettes. This isn’t true, and shouldn’t be a reason for people to start using them!
The New Oral Health Concern
Vapes have a growing number of health concerns according to researchers. Even though they don’t contain tobacco, they still have a high concentration of nicotine, the addictive substance found in tobacco, as well as other dangerous chemicals. Moreover, these additives can have some serious impacts on your mouth, gums, and teeth!
What makes it more concerning is how teens and young adults tend to start using a vape as a fad, and ultimately get addicted to nicotine. The safest approach when it comes to vaping is to say no! Talk to your kids about avoiding vaping and cigarettes, and bring them in to visit Dr. Keaton Tomlin and he can go through more of the risks.
What To Know About Vaping and Oral Health
Here are a few of the top things you should know about the health risks of vaping.
Nicotine
As we mentioned above, vape juice includes nicotine, the same addictive chemical found in tobacco. Because nicotine is so addictive, it is often very difficult for teens or adults to easily quit after they have started smoking or vaping. The chances of negative health outcomes increase the longer you use a vape, so even if you try it once, it’s better not to tempt fate and accidentally get yourself addicted.
Nicotine is also harmful because it restricts blood flow. This means that your mouth and gums may not get the amount of blood flow that they need to keep you healthy. In many cases, this can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
Harmful Chemicals
Nicotine isn’t the only chemical found in vapes that can be harmful to your oral health. They also contain benzene, propylene glycol, formaldehyde, and other toxic chemicals. Propylene glycol is one of the substances in vape juice that can break down into acids that erode enamel and soft tissue in the mouth. This can result in tooth decay or loss, and cavities. Generally, it’s important for your oral health to avoid consuming any of these chemicals.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is when the gums and bones that support the teeth are infected and inflamed. This can look like the early stages of gingivitis where the gums might be a little tender and bleed when brushed. It can also grow into much more serious problems like tooth and bone loss.
Research is finding that vaping increases the chances of periodontal disease significantly. Especially when young people get hooked early, years of vaping can make them even more likely to get periodontal disease. Once there is significant bone or tooth loss, it can be really painful and difficult to treat, and impact your overall life and well-being.
What To Do If You’re Already Hooked
If you or your teen are already hooked on using a vape, the best place to start is with a visit to your doctor and to Mountain West Dental Specialists. There are a few different treatments out there that can help with nicotine addiction, as well as provide the emotional support to take the leap to quit this habit. It’s also helpful for your doctors to keep an eye out for risk factors that could progressively get worse over time. They may be able to offer some preventative treatments that will decrease your risk factors, and ultimately help you break the bad habit!
Find Your Team at Mountain West Dental Specialists
Whether you need support breaking an unhealthy habit or you just need a team you can trust to help maintain your oral health, you need to look no further than Mountain West Dental Specialists. We have been offering help to our patients in Las Vegas for many years and are experts in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics! Give our office a call today to schedule your appointment and see just how healthy your and your family’s teeth can be!
