Oral Health – Deep Research on Smoking Versus Vaping

It’s important to be clear that smoking and vaping harm your dental health. There is a wealth of scientific evidence to support this claim, though not as much research has been conducted on vaping since it is newer.

If you’re trying to quit smoking and don’t know whether it would be better for you to stick with cigarettes or switch to a disposable vape, this article is for you. In fact, nicotine vaping is far less harmful than smoking, according to NHS. Not only that, but it’s also one of the most effective tools for quitting smoking.

The Impact Of Smoking On Your Dental Health

Not only is smoking incredibly harmful to your general health, but it also takes a toll on your dental health. One of the earliest effects that you will see is how smoking stains your teeth. Repeated exposure to the nicotine and tar found in cigarettes can cause your teeth to become stained. Even though your enamel is tough, it is still a porous material that can absorb stains.

Not only do the tar and nicotine from cigarettes discolour your teeth, but they also provide a food source for cavity-causing bacteria. These bacteria excrete acid that erodes your tooth enamel. As a result, smokers often have higher rates of cavities and other dental issues that start with damaged teeth.

Lastly, smoking harms your gum tissue, causing problems where your teeth and gums meet. Smokers often struggle with gum disease because bacteria can slip in and cause infections when the gum attachment to teeth is loose. As a result, long-time smokers often need both general and cosmetic dental services to help keep their oral health in check and for smile repair.

The Impact Of Vaping On Your Dental Health

Not enough long-term scientific studies are available that detail the adverse effects vaping has on oral health. However, vaping is not the best solution if you want to improve your dental health.

Let’s explore staining in more depth. Without burning tar, the danger of nicotine-related staining is significantly lower. However, if you use a disposable vape that has e-liquid with high nicotine content, you’re more likely to stain and yellow your teeth.

Unlike smoking cigarettes, vaping does not create a build-up of residue on your teeth for bacteria. However, that doesn’t make the vapour from vaping devices safe. Among other things, vapour from using a disposable vape leaves users’ mouths feeling dry. Bacteria can then more easily proliferate on teeth and gums without saliva to wash them away.

Furthermore, vaping can conceal the warning signs of gum disease. For example, nicotine narrows blood vessels in the gums, so an early sign like inflamed, red gums might go unnoticed until your periodontitis becomes more severe.

Vaping Is The Lesser Evil!

Though we cannot be certain, smoking seems more detrimental to oral health than vaping. However, this does not mean either of these habits is good for you. If possible, try to quit vaping and smoking as soon as possible. A good rule of thumb is to follow the NHS’ advice, ‘Vaping is not recommended for those who don’t already smoke or young people because it is not entirely safe.’