Published on
Updated
Reading 2 mins.
in collaboration with
Christophe Lequart (Oral health)
Does vaping harm oral health? It would seem so, according to the results of a study published in The Journal of the American Dental Association. Indeed, according to the authors of this work, users of vapers would have a greater risk of having cavities.
Are you used to using an electronic cigarette to avoid smoking? This can be a solution, but watch out for the health of your teeth. According to an American study, vaping smokes with sweet notes can lead to the formation of cavities.
Vaping: what consequences for oral health?
If the electronic cigarette has been widely studied for its consequences on the lungs and the organism of those who use it, the link with cavities and oral health in general has been much less studied. For this first study looking at this link, researchers analyzed data from 13,000 patients over the age of 16 who were treated for dental problems between 2019 and 2022.”While the vast majority of patients reported not vaping, there was a statistically significant difference in levels of tooth decay risk between the e-cigarette/vaping group and the control group.” note the researchers.
“Nearly 80% of patients who vape are at high risk of cavities”
According to the findings of this study, 79% of vaping patients were classified as having a high risk of cavities, compared to 60% for the control group. One of the authors states that “the content of the vapers (THC or nicotine) was not asked to the volunteers“but believes that”nicotine is more common“.
Indeed, the researchers were interested in the vaping liquid and more particularly its sugar content and its viscosity, because when it is transformed into an aerosol and inhaled by the mouth, it becomes a kind of “film” which sticks to the teeth. .
Drink a glass of water after vaping
“It is because of this that people who vape develop this type of cavity, at the base of the tooth, at the edge of the gum.” confirms Dr. Christophe Lequart, dental surgeon and spokesperson for the French Union for Oral Health. “Smoke contains sugar and it is this sugar that causes cavities to form“.
The dental surgeon concedes that not all vapers contain sweet flavors and that the study having been carried out in the United States, the components may vary. However, he advises people who vape to drink a glass of water to rinse their mouths, if they cannot brush their teeth after each vaping.