For many Americans, vaping is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to smoking. After all, it’s better for you, right? As more people taking up this habit, medical professionals and dentists are beginning to realize the dangers e-cigarettes pose for our smile’s health. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, dentist takes a look at the dangers of vaping on your oral health.
The Dangers of Cigarettes
We know that cigarettes and other tobacco products contain harmful ingredients. In addition to staining your teeth and lead to tooth loss, when you smoke you increase the risk of serious disease, such as oral, throat, and lung cancer, emphysema, and still others. People who smoke risk losing their lives due to prolonged and incredibly painful illness. Which is why we and other dental professionals recommend anyone using tobacco products quit immediately. But what about e-cigarettes? These have been offered as a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes, a way to quit without dealing with the headaches, mood swings, and other issues encountered when quitting cold turkey. However, this alternative is not completely safe for your smile.
The Health Risks of E-Cigarettes
The e-liquid used in these devices contain a number of ingredients that are harmful for your smile. For example, the propylene glycol used to carry the nicotine to the user contains acids and propionaldehyde, which is not only harmful to tooth enamel and gum tissue, but also leads to dry mouth, a major factor in the onset of tooth decay and gum disease. The vegetable glycerin used to flavor them also leaves a film on the teeth, which inadvertently bonds cavity-causing bacteria to the teeth and increases the likelihood of decay. Finally, when we vape we expose our smiles to nicotine, which has been shown to increase the risk of gum disease, putting your smile’s health and stability at risk. As you can see, e-cigarettes may put your smile in danger.
Oral Cancer Screening
If you have questions about quitting, then please give our office a call. We can discuss alternatives to vaping and offer tips to help you drop the habit. We will also provide routine oral cancer screenings, which can identify the disease in the earliest stages and help boost the chances of recovery. We offer these as part of our regular checkups and cleanings, and they are absolutely essential for adults. If you have any questions about vaping and cigarettes, or if you’re ready to schedule a screening and checkup, then contact our team today.
Schedule Your Oral Cancer Screening
Don’t let smoking and vaping have a negative impact on your smile’s health and appearance. For more information on quitting and oral cancer screenings, schedule a consultation by calling the Viva Dental Family Dentistry office nearest you at (214) 337-7800 (Dallas) or (972) 437-6000 (Richardson).
