“Is vaping bad for your teeth?” is a question I’ve started to hear often. The answer is a resounding “Yes”.
In this post, I’ll cover the immediate and long-term effects of vaping on oral health and how to minimise the side effects of vaping.
5 Immediate Effects of Vaping on Oral Health
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Tooth Decay
Vaping contributes to tooth decay and cavities in a variety of ways, including:
- Enamel erosion
- Increased bacteria in the mouth
- Decreased saliva production
- Plaque buildup due to the sticky, acidic nature of vaping ingredients
The combined effects of softened enamel and bacteria overgrowth contribute to tooth decay, cavities, and a variety of oral health issues.
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Enamel Erosion
The propylene glycol, chemicals, flavourings, nicotine, and vegetable glycerine in vape juice erode tooth enamel. When these ingredients are heated, they become acidic and thick, allowing the toxins to stick to the surface of teeth and weaken enamel.
When tooth enamel is eroded, bacteria and acid can easily attack the teeth and lead to decay.
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Staining and Discolouration
Although e-cigarettes don’t contain ash and tar like regular cigarettes, they can still cause tooth discolouration.
Colouring agents and prolonged nicotine exposure from vaping can cause yellowing and staining on the surface of teeth.
For tips on how to keep your teeth white, check out our guide here: Keep Your Smile Bright.
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Gum Disease
Vaping raises your risk of gum disease, especially if you use vape products containing nicotine and added flavourings.
Vaping contributes to gum disease by decreasing blood flow, increasing gum inflammation, and reducing the body’s healing abilities.
Learn More: Gum Disease – Find Out What It Is and How to Prevent It
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Dry Mouth
Many people do not realise how important saliva is for oral health. Saliva helps protect the teeth by flushing away debris, maintaining proper pH in the mouth, neutralising acids, and preventing bacterial overgrowth.
Vaping leads to a reduction in saliva production, leaving teeth more susceptible to dry mouth.
Dry mouth poses oral health risks such as:
- Decay
- Gum disease
- Bad breath
- Mouth sores
You May Also Like: Bad Breath Guide: What is Halitosis and How to Prevent It?
Long Term Effects of Vaping on Oral Health
DNA Damage
There is evidence that the chronic inflammation caused by vaping may damage DNA. This DNA damage can lead to oral health issues such as gum disease, tooth loss, bad breath, tooth decay, and mouth irritation.
Mouth Cancer
When you inhale vaping juice, you expose your mouth and gums to harmful substances, such as:
- Nicotine
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- Cancer-causing chemicals
- Heavy metals
- Artificial flavourings
These chemicals in e-cigarettes may cause mouth cancer.
Tooth Loss
Individuals who vape are at a higher risk of tooth loss. Tooth loss comes with its own complications, including tooth shifting and jaw bone shrinkage.
Maintaining Oral Hygiene While Vaping
Here are tips I give my patients to minimise the damaging effects of vaping on oral health.
Maintain Strict Oral Hygiene
Maintaining a good oral hygiene routine is crucial if you vape.
Here are my recommendations for a good oral hygiene routine:
- Brush twice daily
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush
- Avoid brushing too aggressively or too often
- Use gentle, circular motions when you brush
- Floss daily
- Use a toothpaste containing fluoride
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet filled with tooth-friendly foods (i.e. cucumbers, carrots, apples, celery, unsweetened dairy products, lean protein, leafy greens)
- Ask your dentist for mouthwash recommendations or personalised product recommendations
Attend Regular Dental Checkups
Regular dental checkups are even more important if you vape. Attending a general dental checkup every six months allows us to detect issues as early as possible.
Early detection and intervention are key for gum disease, decay, and other oral health issues. Regular dental checkups are also a great chance to discuss any concerns you have about vaping and oral health and to come up with a personalised oral hygiene routine.
Learn More: General Dental Check Ups Perth
Stay Adequately Hydrated
Staying adequately hydrated can help counteract the decreased saliva production caused by vaping.
Try to drink a glass of water anytime you finish vaping. Along with rehydrating and stimulating saliva production, drinking water can help flush away some of the vaping toxins.
Opt for Nicotine-Free Vaping Liquids
Check for nicotine-free vaping options to help decrease your exposure to nicotine and reduce staining and gum irritation.
Watch Out for Vaping Side Effects
Keep an eye out for dental side effects from vaping, such as toothache, bleeding gums, dry mouth, or other issues.
Contact your dentist immediately if you are experiencing these vaping-related problems:
- Changes in teeth sensitivity
- Chronic bad breath or dry mouth
- Receding gums
- Swollen or bleeding gums
- Mouth sores or ulcers that aren’t healing
- Loose teeth
- Mouth pain or toothaches
Limit How Often You Vape
Limiting your vaping frequency decreases how often your mouth and teeth are exposed to the nicotine, chemicals, and harmful additives.
Quit Vaping
The best way to maintain and protect your oral health is to quit vaping but I know that is easier said than done.
If you do want to quit vaping, I highly recommend these local, helpful resources:
- Smoking and vaping cessation resources from the Government of Western Australia Department of Health
- WA Quitline
- Vaping prevention campaign for young people | Western Australian Government
How Vaping Affects Dental Treatments
Invisalign
I do not recommend vaping while undergoing Invisalign treatment. Vaping during Invisalign treatment can cause:
- Staining of your teeth and the aligners
- Aligner warping
- Gum disease
- Bad breath
- Discomfort
- Decreased results and the need to extend treatment time
Braces
As with Invisalign, vaping with braces can cause a variety of complications.
I do not recommend vaping while undergoing braces due to the risk of:
- Staining of your natural teeth around the metal brackets
- Gum disease
- Tooth decay
- Bad breath and dry mouth
- Increased discomfort
- Less predictable results and the need to extend treatment time
Teeth Whitening
Prevention is the best approach to tooth stains, but if you want to brighten teeth that are stained from vaping, we offer a couple of professional options:
- Zoom! Chairside — The Zoom! Teeth whitening system is a professional teeth whitening option that uses a concentrated hydrogen peroxide formula for instant, dramatic results. In around 90 minutes, this in-office whitening procedure will leave you with noticeably brighter, healthier-looking teeth.
- Professional Take Home Whitening Kits — Our professional take-home whitening kits are a customised option that allows you to conveniently whiten your teeth at home. Take-home whitening kits take longer than in-chair whitening, usually about 14 days, but still deliver a noticeably whiter smile.
Whether you opt for a professional take-home whitening kit or Zoom! Chairside whitening, I recommend waiting a minimum of 72 hours before vaping.
It is also important to be realistic with your expectations. Continuing to vape after teeth whitening will diminish your initial results and how long your results last.
Veneers
Just as it can damage natural teeth, vaping can also negatively affect veneers. Healthy gums are important for maintaining the integrity of porcelain veneers.
The decreased blood flow and increased risk of gum disease from vaping can affect the longevity, function, and comfort of your veneers. Vaping can also lead to stubborn stains on your veneers and surrounding teeth.
Wisdom Tooth Removal
If you vape after wisdom tooth removal, you are at an increased risk of wisdom tooth surgery side effects. These include:
- Infection
- Pain
- Delayed healing
- Dry sockets
If you do vape after wisdom tooth removal, I recommend waiting a minimum of 72 hours to minimise your risk of side effects.
Professional Support from 123 Dental
Despite its marketing as a healthier alternative to smoking, vaping is harmful to oral health in a variety of ways.
Vaping increases your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, dry mouth, enamel erosion, and other long term effects on oral health.
Attending regular dental checkups is one of the best ways to minimise the side effects of vaping, so we encourage you to book an appointment.
Whether you want to quit vaping or plan to continue, we offer a supportive environment focused on helping you protect your oral health.
Book your appointment today and our caring team will help get you on track to healthier teeth and gums.
