Vaping and Your Oral Health
Vaping is often perceived as a less harmful alternative to smoking cigarettes, but recent research is showing that it has a significant negative impact on your overall health—including your mouth. The fact is, vaping is a relatively new phenomenon and its long-term oral health impacts—including risk of periodontal damage and cell changes—are not yet fully understood. (Wikipedia, Quit Tasmania). The risks can accumulate over time and affect both comfort and health.
At Kingston Beach Dental, we do not encourage smoking or vaping of any kind and want all our patients to understand the real risks. Here’s what you need to know about how vaping affects oral health.
The Facts
● Dry Mouth: Ingredients like propylene glycol found in vape liquids reduce saliva production, leading to dry mouth—making you more vulnerable to cavities, gum disease, bad breath, and tooth sensitivity. (Quit Tasmania, Wikipedia, Department of Health)
● Increased Gum Disease Risk: Vaping irritates gum tissues and can accelerate inflammation and gum recession—raising your chances of periodontitis. (Wikipedia)
● Nicotine’s Harmful Effects: Nicotine narrows blood vessels, reducing blood flow to your gums. This slows healing, increases gum disease risk, and can even lead to tooth loss. (Wikipedia)
● Enamel Erosion: Many vape flavourings are acidic, which can gradually wear down enamel—leading to sensitivity and more vulnerability to decay. (The Sun)
● Loss of Taste (“Vape Tongue”): Heavy vaping and dry mouth may trigger “vape tongue,” a temporary loss of taste. Managing hydration and oral hygiene is key to recovery. (The Sun)
● Oral Health Lesions and Tissue Damage: Associations have been made with nicotine stomatitis, angular cheilitis, hairy tongue, and other lesions in vape users. (Wikipedia)
Take Control and Get Support
At Kingston Beach Dental, we’re dedicated to helping you maintain a healthy, confident smile—free from the effects of vaping. If you currently vape, or are considering quitting, we strongly encourage you to seek help and support.
In Tasmania, Quit Tasmania offers excellent free resources tailored to quitting vaping and smoking:
● Visit the Don’t Let Vaping In campaign online hub for interactive tools, advice, and support tailored to Tasmanians, including young people. (Campaign Brief)
● Call Quitline on 13 QUIT (13 7848) or use the My QuitBuddy app for free counselling, strategies to manage cravings, and personalised quitting plans. (Department of Health)
Quitting vaping not only supports your overall health—it can help restore your oral health too. Your family dentist and local Tasmanian support services are here to assist every step of the way.
