Vaping is often marketed as a healthier alternative to smoking or a tool to quit smoking. But it鈥檚 not a safe habit鈥攖he health effects of vaping can be irreversible and
Because it鈥檚 a relatively new technology, the long-term health consequences of vaping are still unknown, but research is revealing an increasing number of health risks, including permanent damage to your teeth and gums.
Vaping can permanently harm your oral health
When you vape, you inhale a combination of airborne chemicals including nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals. David Okano, DDS, section head of periodontics at the 人妻中出视频 of Utah School of Dentistry, explains that vaping is associated with an increased risk of Vaping can lead to infection and inflammation of the gums, which in turn can cause permanent loss of bone around your teeth and eventual tooth loss. 鈥淵ou lose bone faster if you鈥檙e vaping, just like you would with tobacco,鈥 he says.
The likely culprit of these health effects is the same as in traditional cigarettes, Okano says: nicotine. The highly addictive component in both tobacco and e-cigarettes, nicotine causes tissue inflammation, which can lead to injury. Long-term exposure to nicotine may also
What鈥檚 more, nicotine also causes the blood vessels in your gums, throat, and lungs to narrow, reducing the amount of blood flow to the tissue. This can slow down healing if your mouth is injured or if you have oral surgery, Okano adds.
It's not just water vapor
The vapor in e-cigarettes contains more than just nicotine. The main ingredient of the 鈥渏uice鈥 is propylene glycol, and as the liquid is heated and vaporized. The chemicals in any given vape cartridge are not as strictly regulated as in tobacco products and can vary wildly between products and flavors. Vapor can contain unhealthy levels of toxic metals, And some of the flavorings in vapor
For instance, some vapor cartridges contain an artificial butter flavor called diacetyl. The health consequences of the low concentrations of diacetyl found in vapor are still unknown. But inhaling large amounts of diacetyl can cause widespread scarring within the lungs that blocks adequate airflow, leading to fatigue, wheezing, and often death.
Long-term general health consequences of vaping are only beginning to be understood
Vaping has only been around for about 20 years and has become widespread only in the last 10-15 years. While there鈥檚 solid evidence that vaping causes oral health issues, more long-term research is needed to understand the full health effects of vaping, Okano explains. There simply hasn鈥檛 been enough time for those health effects to emerge. In the meantime, why use yourself as a test subject?
When someone says, 鈥榃ell, you don鈥檛 have any proof that vaping is damaging,鈥 my response would be: not yet.
Okano鈥檚 advice regarding vaping is the same as for smoking. 鈥淭he bottom line? Vaping is not a safe alternative to smoking,鈥 he says. 鈥淪o if you don鈥檛 vape, don鈥檛 start. And if you do vape, try to quit.鈥
If you鈥檙e ready to quit vaping鈥攐r smoking鈥攖he Utah Department of 人妻中出视频 and Human 人妻中出视频 offers including personalized coaching and nicotine replacement therapy.