E-cigarettes vs conventional cigarettes. Are both harmful for our oral health?

According to Wikipedia, an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) is a device that tries to create the feeling of tobacco smoking. It works by heating a liquid to generate an aerosol (called “vapor’) that the user inhales. Using e-cigarettes is also called “vaping”. The liquid in the e-cigarette contains nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerine  and flavorings. It does not contains tobacco, as a conventional cigarette does.

Although it has not been proved that e-cigarettes are as harmful as tobacco, recent studies on the topic have seen vaping as a potential concern. Vapers and smokers are exposed to nicotine and other chemicals in the same way.

Smoking conventional cigarettes leads to oral health problems, such as: stained teeth and tongue, increased build of plaque and tartar on the teeth, increased loss of bone within the jaw, gum disease (studies have shown that smokers were three to six times more likely to suffer from gum disease than non-smokers), bad breath, lower success rate of dental implant procedures, delayed healing process following tooth extraction, periodontal treatment, oral cancers.

Smoking plays a significant role in the many cases of oral cancers diagnosed every year, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation. A University of California study showed that 8 out of 10 patients with oral cancer were smokers. Smoking impactsyour immune system and interferes with your mouth’s ability to heal itself.

Smoking e-cigarettes also leads to dental problems, although there are not enough studies to demonstrate this. At the moment we do not have very much evidence specifically concerning vaping, and much is just speculation.

Researchers at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in New York suggest that electronic cigarettes are as equally damaging to gums and teeth as conventional cigarettes. They showed that the vapors from an e-cigarette affect the cells in the mouth, which can lead to various oral diseases. The nicotine cause gum disease.And a e-cigar does contain this substance.

More research is needed in order to better understand the health effects of e-cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes continue to grow in popularity because they are often perceived as a healthier  alternative to conventional cigarettes. But the objective must be to quit smoking, not to replace it with something maybe less harmful, but not enough healthy.

As a conclusion, although clinical studies on oral health effects of e-cigarettes have not been reported, the high level of nicotine suggest these products may increase the risk of periodontal disease. They affect the cells, the tissues and the organs from the oral cavity. If you are a smoker, the best solution is to quit and not to replace conventional cigarettes with the electronic ones. In case you need support, please feel free to contact Dr. Arhiri. Your smile must be awesome and heathy. Stained and damaged teeth can’t find their place in this equation.

References:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314190.php
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/smoking-oral-health#1
https://www.fdiworlddental.org/oral-health/tobacco-and-oral-health
https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/s/smoking-and-tobacco
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/threats-to-dental-health/what-you-need-to-know-about-smoking-and-oral-health-0814
http://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(15)00713-8/pdf
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/news/20161118/e-cigarettes-not-good-to-gums-study-finds
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_cigarette
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/4667/first-ever-study-shows-e-cigarettes-cause-damage-to-gum-tissue.aspx