Vaping and E-cigarette use and dental care: What patients and parents need to know from Riverwalk Dental
Most people are aware that the use of E-cigarettes and vaping products is very much on the rise throughout Massachusetts and all throughout the country. According to the Surgeon General of the United States, E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among youth throughout America today. Although such products have proven to be less harmful than smoking traditional cigarettes, smokeless tobacco is not without its dangers.
According to the Massachusetts Dental Society, there are several factors people sometimes do not consider when choosing to vape, and those in particular who are not moving away from traditional smoking to an E-cigarette should consider:
- Nicotine is a highly addictive drug no matter how it is delivered into one’s bloodstream. A person choosing to vape the drug instead of smoking it will still become addicted to the chemical.
- Vaping generates an aerosol that coats the lungs of the user. According to USNews Health, ultrafine particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs plus flavorings like diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious and irreversible lung disease called obliterative bronchiolitis have been found, as well as even heavy metals including nickel, tin, and lead.
- In an article written by the Massachusetts Dental Society, vaping sweet flavored E-cigarettes can increase the risk of cavities. In fact, scientists have evaluated e-cigarette aerosols and found that they have similar properties to high-sucrose syrups, gelatinous candies and acidic drinks which cause serious issues with everyone’s oral health.
The doctors and staff at Riverwalk Dental want all our patients to be healthy and happy. If you are a current cigarette smoker, moving to smokeless tobacco could be your answer to weaning yourself off of a product that is likely causing serious problems for your oral health, heart, and lungs. Yet such products are not without their own risks. We encourage our clients to educate themselves before considering their options.
If you are not currently a smoker, please consider never using a vaping or E-cigarette product. Although these items appear on the surface to be harmless, they are not. Addictive chemicals will not just hurt your pocketbook with an unnecessary expense, it could lead to serious problems in the future including gum disease, tooth decay, and serious damage to the most vital organs of your body.