Article reviewed by:
Dr Ansgar Cheng • Prosthodontist
There has been an alarming number of people worldwide attracted to vaping (flavoured e-cigarettes) with the misconception that it is less harmful than smoking or even “harmless”.
The use of vapes is illegal in Singapore, and offenders can be fined up to $2,000 but the number of people caught vaping and possessing vapes is still on the rise. This is worrying as it is not only bad for your heart and lungs, it also causes permanent damage to your gums and teeth.
Vaping damages your gums
Nicotine, whether vaped, chewed, or smoked, narrows blood vessels, restricting blood flow to gums. This hinders oxygen and nutrient supply, impeding healing and destroying the gums. Vaping leads to mouth sores, gum recession, and mouth cancers.
Vaping harms your teeth
Heated vape chemicals destroy tooth enamel and cause tooth decay due to propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerine (VG).
The use of vapes also leads to dry mouth, causing bad breath and multiple decays in a short time, which becomes an expensive and complicated problem.
Related:
Saliva and its uses
Vaping turns teeth yellow or brown (and may make you look unattractive ).
Related:
Patches on the teeth
The best way to protect your health is to quit smoking or vaping. Protect your teeth by brushing them twice daily with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes and seeing your dental specialist twice a year. Do not forget to floss once daily too!
If you are concerned about the impact of vaping on your teeth, share it with your dental specialist so they can help you.
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