Do you remember the days of restaurants with smoking and nonsmoking sections? Those days are practically long gone across the country. It’s no secret that smoking cigarettes and use of other tobacco products can have lasting negative effects on the mouth. That being said, there are new trends popping up every year cited as healthy alternatives to this and that. One of those trends to combat the lack of smoking-friendly establishments is using juuls, vapes, and e-cigs.
You have most likely seen one in a corner store or gas station – vape pens, juuls, and electronic cigarettes became a fad rather quickly in the mid-2000s. They are made to produce water vapor, which gives the illusion of smoke. A liquid mixture containing nicotine is smoked and exhaled as an aerosol, or vapor cloud.
What’s the difference between vaping and smoking?
Because they are “smokeless,” switching over from smoking cigarettes to vape pens and e-cigs was originally thought of (and is still marketed) as having two major benefits:
- It is not as unhealthy as smoking, and…
- You can once again smoke indoors.
While it initially seems to make sense that using e-cigs is a supposedly better alternative to actually smoking a cigarette… both of the proposed e-cig benefits did not soundly hold up after extensive research was found.
A study from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that while vaping, the heated coils in e-cigs can leak unsafe amounts of toxic metals. If these toxic metals are consistently inhaled into the body via vape pens, you could experience anything from lung disease to brain damage. This has also been linked to cancer!
What are common symptoms from using Juuls, Vapes, and E-Cigs?
Many vapes, juuls, and e-cigs still use nicotine. This is not good for any part of the body, including the mouth. Nicotine causes damage in the form of receding gums due to decreased blood flow to gums, leading to periodontal disease. Yikes!
Additionally, because there is less oxygen and blood flow to the vessels, your mouth has a much harder time fighting bacteria. A weaker mouth can more easily invite decay and infections at increased rates.
Dry mouth is one of the biggest culprits from using smokeless vape devices. This is because there is a chemical, Propylene Glycol, which pulls the moisture from inside your mouth. With dry mouth often comes tooth decay.
Known as a sore or inflamed mouth, stomatitis affects your mouth’s lining and can lead to lesions anywhere orally – the palate, inner cheek, gums, etc – yet in this case, sores primarily linked to vaping are generally found on the palate. Stomatitis tends to be rather painful. Any high concentration of heat entering the mouth can lead to irritation, as can chemicals such as nicotine.
Other side effects of vaping include:
- dizziness
- dry eyes and skin
- nose bleeds
- smoker’s cough
- canker sores
- nausea
Does vaping have any benefits?
If anything, vaping around others is marginally better than smoking because it lacks the secondhand smoke. Regardless, many nonsmokers still do not care for vapor clouds or the smell from scented or flavored vapor. In addition, many establishments do not allow vaping indoors.
Vaping is Bad for Your Teeth and Mouth
The most honest conclusion is that yes, using juuls, e-cigs, and vapes are just not good for your health, especially when pertaining to your mouth. While not everyone who uses a vape, juul, or e-cig will have dental issues, it is best to recognize symptoms, while knowing how to better protect your teeth and gums. Do your oral health a favor and kick any smoking related habits and be a happier, healthier you.
