Can I vape after dental cleaning?

While you may already know that smoking is bad for your teeth, you might wonder if vaping is safe. The answer is yes.  While some people switch from smoking to vaping because they may think vaping is a safer alternative to smoking, studies show that it is just bad for your teeth and gums. Vaping has the same adverse effects on your oral health as smoking and your dentist WILL be able to tell.

Sadly, many teens are also vaping and putting their mouths at risk. A recent survey shows up to 37% of high school seniors and over 17% of middle-schoolers vaped in the previous year.  That’s why knowing the risks of vaping is so important.

Here are some reasons vaping can harm your oral health:

Nicotine Can Stain & Harm Teeth & Gums:

 Although vaping does not contain tobacco, it does contain nicotine.  Because one cartridge of an e-cigarette is equal to smoking 2-3 packs of regular cigarettes, understanding the effects of nicotine on the mouth is important.

Nicotine is dangerous because mixed with your saliva creates yellow and/or brown tainted stains on your teeth which is bad for both dental aesthetics and health. As you continue to vape more and more, the stains will become more prevalent and harder to get rid of.

Studies have shown that nicotine has negative effects on the gums. Research suggests that nicotine acts as a vasoconstrictor that affects blood flow to gum tissue.  Poor circulation because of nicotine is compounded by affects on immune cells that increase the user’s chance of developing gum disease. That means that nicotine use is associated with increased periodontal pockets, bone loss, and tooth loss.

Vaping Causes Dry Mouth:

While nicotine also reduces the saliva flow in your mouth, so does the chemical, Propylene Glycol, which is an ingredient in vaping oils. This chemical absorbs moisture in your mouth causing dry tissues and tooth surfaces.  Because saliva is your best defense against tooth decay, reduced saliva leads to dry mouth, which can lead to more plaque bacteria, tooth decay, and can increase your risk of gum disease.

Tooth Staining & Cavities:

 Propylene glycol also breaks down into acids that damage enamel, which makes teeth more vulnerable to cavities.  Not only that, but the vegetable glycerin and other flavorings in the oils help bacteria stick teeth that are already damaged.  Those flavoring additives are known to decrease enamel hardness by 27%!

Mouth Burns:

While rare, vaping can cause mouth burns because they are generated by lithium batteries that can overheat or even explode.  

Palate Stomatitis:  

Vaping can the cell lining of the mouth, especially the roof of your mouth becomes inflamed, which can lead to painful sores and lesions.

Tooth Damage:

Because nicotine is a stimulant, it can act as a muscle stimulant that can cause you to grind or clench your teeth, which is called Bruxism.  Bruxism can cause broken & damaged teeth, jaw pain, headaches, and is a risk factor for bone loss around your teeth.

The Bottom Line

Even though e-cigarettes don’t have tobacco, their oils still have nicotine, which causes mouth problems like smoking.  And the other ingredients in vaping oils can cause damage to your teeth too.  

The misconception is that e-cigarettes are healthier than smoking, or that vaping isn’t bad for your teeth. So, if you vape or smoke, just know that the habit can cause some serious problems for your teeth & gums.

If you do vape, stay on top of your oral health, and always keep regular dental checkups at your local dentist.  And if you want to quit, talk to your dentist for cessation options and to learn about how to best protect your teeth and gums from the effects of nicotine on your oral health.

It is well known that tobacco smoking is associated with many negative health effects. It can also affect the mouth, gums and teeth in many ways. The tobacco and nicotine in cigarettes can cause the teeth to become stained and yellow and cause bad breath. Smoking can also affect your ability to taste foods and drinks.

Smoking is associated with an approximately 80 percent increased risk of developing severe gum disease, known as periodontitis, bone loss and other periodontal diseases compared to people who do not smoke.

Tobacco smoking can increase your risk of developing severe gum disease called periodontitis. This results in loss of the supporting bone structures around the teeth and can cause teeth to drift and become loose. Without treatment, the damaged teeth may fall out or need to be removed. Early signs of gum disease like bleeding gums (gingivitis, or inflamed gums) are harder to pick up - both by individuals and dentists, due to the reduced blood supply to the gums.

Smoking can cause wounds or lesions inside the mouth to heal slowly. This is also due to the decreased blood flow to the gums. After oral surgery, such as a tooth extraction, smoking can increase the risk of a dry socket developing. A dry socket is where the extraction socket stops healing properly. This can be a very painful condition. It is important to avoid smoking for as long as possible after having a tooth removed.

Saliva is an important factor in protecting our teeth. Smoking can affect how much saliva your body makes. A decrease in the amount of saliva or saliva that is thick and frothy instead of thin and runny, means your teeth are less protected.

Oral cancer is two times more likely to develop in people who use tobacco compared to those who do not. This includes tobacco that is smoked and chewed. Drinking alcohol and smoking at the same time can increase your risk of oral cancer even more than each alone. Tobacco use and alcohol consumption cause about 75% of oral cancers. Once you quit using tobacco, your risk of developing oral cancer will start to decrease.

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