A dentist has revealed what changes vaping can make to a person's mouth as she urged vapers to consider cutting back on the habit, or quitting altogether.
While vaping was once advertised as a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes, the downsides of the habit have since been revealed.
Some of the ways vaping can have a negative impact on your health include possibly developing something known as 'popcorn lung' and so-called vape tongue, as well as causing erectile dysfunction in men aged 20 and over.
'Popcorn lung' in particular can be incredibly harmful, as there is no cure for it, with the American Lung Association calling it a 'dangerous risk of flavored e-cigarettes', with only treatment for managing the symptoms.
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But vaping can also affect your oral care as well, according to TikTok creator 'Dentist Emi'.
She said in a recently shared video that there are a lot of ways that vaping changes your mouth, but she narrowed it down to the top three common ones she's come across.
Vape stain
In the same way your teeth can become stained from drinking too much coffee, apparently, your teeth can become stained from vaping.
Emi described the stain as 'a super sticky residue unique to vaping that builds up along the teeth and gumline'.
"It can be difficult to remove, even with professional instruments," she added.
Dry mouth
Emi says that vaping reduces saliva production, which protects your teeth and gums.
More specifically, according to Mouth Dental, saliva 'helps neutralize acids, clean the oral cavity and protect against tooth decay'.
With this in mind, Emi says the habit can cause a 'vulnerable mouth'.
Puffy, red, inflamed gums
People with irritated gums are at risk of developing gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Emi says that this can happen 'even in people with healthy gums before, and good brushing habits'.
Reportedly nicotine can reduce the blood flow to gums so things like vaping can impair 'the ability of the gums to heal and defend against infections'.
In the final part of her post, Emi said she was sharing the video, which has been viewed over 200,000 times at the time of writing, to raise awareness, not to judge people who vape.
"If you vape, consider reducing or stopping where possible, and make sure you’re attending regular dental checkups so any changes can be caught early," the dentist added.
"Your mouth often shows signs long before you feel a problem," Emi added.
Bupa UK says it is best not to try to hide that you vape from your dentist, as not only can they spot it as stated above, but it will also allow them to check your mouth and advise on oral care fully.
Niamh Shackleton