Older generations can remember the days when options for straightening teeth were limited. Braces or dentures were, at one time, two of the few choices for improving smiles…
Smoking or chewing tobacco is widely acknowledged to be harmful to your health, including your oral health. Many people now use vaping as a healthier alternative to smoking. While vaping is a healthier alternative to smoking, its long-term effects are unknown. A study recently completed by the New York University College of Dentistry on the effects of vaping on oral health discovered a link between vaping and periodontal disease.
Vaping Is Linked to Periodontal Disease
The researchers studied the oral health of smokers, vapers, and nonsmokers for six months. The researchers compared the bacteria in the mouth as well as the concentrations of cytokines in plaque under the gums in the three groups. The researchers were able to compare bacteria and cytokines from each participant because everyone in the study had at least some periodontal disease.
They discovered that vaping seemed to promote bacterial growth in the same way that smoking cigarettes did. The bacteria profile, on the other hand, was distinct, implying that vaping may pose entirely different oral health risks than smoking.
The Oral Health Consequences of Vaping
Many people begin vaping as a healthier alternative to smoking. People who used to smoke but switched to vaping to improve their health instead of quitting may be unaware of the risks that vaping still poses. According to the findings of the NYU study, vaping does not pose fewer oral health risks than smoking. It instead poses a number of health risks.
Someone who used to smoke but now vapes may not notice any improvement in their risk of oral health. Instead, they may be exposed to both the health risks associated with smoking and the health risks associated with vaping. Vaping is not a viable smoking cessation method.
More research into vaping’s effects is needed.
According to the researchers, more research into the effects of vaping on oral health is required. “E-cigarette use is a relatively new human habit.” “We know little about the health consequences of e-cigarette use and are only now beginning to understand how the unique microbiome promoted by vaping impacts oral health and disease,” Dr. Scott Thomas reported. The study on vaping and periodontal disease was led by Dr. Thomas, an assistant research scientist at NYU.
