
It seems like a good idea – switching from smoking traditional cigarettes to smokeless e-cigarettes. After all, most of the dangerous chemicals in cigarettes are contained in the smoke, and e-cigarettes emit harmless water vapor. So e-cigarettes are safe alternative for your dental health, right? Not so fast – the jury is still out.
Electronic cigarettes, better known as e-cigarettes, are an undeniably popular smoking alternative. Inside each unit is a battery, a heating element, and a cartridge that holds nicotine and other liquids and flavorings. The battery ignites the heating element, which vaporizes the liquids. The user inhales the nicotine vapor – an addictive chemical – but exhales water vapor (known as “vaping”). In traditional cigarettes, burning the tobacco causes smoke, which delivers nicotine to the smoker’s lungs, along with many other dangerous chemicals, such as benzene, vinyl chloride, ammonium arsenate, and hydrogen cyanide. As a smoker exhales, a portion of these chemicals is released into the air. This “second-hand smoke” has been at the center of many controversies and has prompted many regions to prohibit traditional smoking in public areas. However, smoking e-cigarettes is still, in many cases, permitted.
Smoking, e-cigarettes, and Your Dental Health
Research has shown that traditional smoking is almost as harmful to your dental health as it is to your lungs. Aesthetically speaking, the tar and nicotine in tobacco smoke can discolor your teeth; teeth begin to look yellow after only smoking for a short time, but long-term smokers often have extensive brown stains. It also causes bad breath.
Beyond that, smoking can lead to a host of long-term, debilitating dental health issues including periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and can damage the bone structure that supports your teeth. In severe cases, it can cause your teeth to fall out. Periodontal disease starts with bacteria on your teeth which moves under your gums. If the bacteria stay on your teeth for too long, layers of plaque and tartar develop. This early-stage periodontal disease is called gingivitis. When gingivitis worsens, your gums can pull away from your teeth and form spaces that get infected. This severe form of gum disease is called periodontitis. The bone and tissue that hold your teeth in place can break down, and your teeth may loosen or need to be pulled out.
In addition to periodontal disease, traditional smoking can delay the healing process following tooth extraction, periodontal treatment, or oral surgery. Smokers have a lower success rate with dental implant procedures, and they have a much higher risk of developing oral cancer.
But what about e-cigarettes? Since many of those issues are connected to the chemicals produced by the tobacco smoke, aren’t e-cigarettes a safer alternative? They answer is a resounding “maybe.”
E-cigarettes are relatively new to the smoking market; we haven’t yet been able to test the long-term effects of vaping. One 2011 study, found that after 4 weeks of use:
6% of patients who using e-cigarettes reported mouth irritation;
8% reported sore throat and dry mouth; and
9% reported mouth ulcers.
After 8 weeks, 8% reported coughing and after 24 weeks, 8% had throat irritation and 7% dry mouth. But what may possibly be lurking in the exhaled vapors is prompting additional investigation. Another study found that although e-cigarette vapors contained 9-450 times lower toxic substances than that of traditional tobacco cigarettes, these emissions are not merely “harmless water vapor,” as is frequently claimed, and can have negative health impacts and be a source of indoor air pollution.
Then there is the question of the nicotine itself. Nicotine — whether delivered via traditional cigarette or other means — can harm your mouth, gums, and tongue. Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it reduces the amount of blood that can flow through your veins. Without sufficient blood flow, the gums don’t get the oxygen and nutrients they need to stay healthy. Nicotine chokes tissues in the mouth from the blood it needs to survive, causing the eventual deterioration of gum tissue.
Not only that, nicotine may actually disguise the damage it’s causing. Swelling and bleeding gums are an indicator of periodontal disease, and if nicotine is reducing the blood flow, you – or your dentist – may not realize it until it’s too late.
One other problem that nicotine can cause is tooth grinding, also called bruxism. Nicotine is a stimulant, a type of chemical which fires up your muscles, including the muscles in your jaws. It can cause you to grind your teeth – or grind them more intensely if you’re already a tooth grinder. Short term, this can cause jaw pain and headaches. Long term, bruxism can wear down your teeth to the point where you need a crown, partial, or even a full set of dentures.
What’s the answer?
Smoking, whether it’s tobacco or e-cigarettes, is a matter of personal choice and, ultimately, the choice is yours. If you already smoke cigarettes, e-cigarettes may be a safer alternative based on the research to date. But that’s “safer,” not “safe.” They still contain nicotine, which can cause significant damage to your dental health. Plus, the long-term effects of e-cigarettes is not yet known. So if you don’t currently smoke, don’t start.
Concerned that you may have periodontal disease?
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Dr. Todd Hasty of Shadow Valley Dental Group is a premier dentist serving patients in Maumee, Ohio. At Shadow Valley Dental Group, you can expect gentle, personalized dental care and unmatched dental expertise. We provide comprehensive services including cleanings, fillings, root canals, implants, cosmetic dental services, and more!
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