Thinking E-Cigs? Think Again.

We all know that smoking cigarettes is bad for your health, and that’s why many people are turning to e-cigarettes. They are supposed to be better for your lungs by not causing cancer, COPD, emphysema, etc. Whether or not that is true is under discussion right now. However, are e-cigs better for your oral health? Again, cigarettes are bad for your teeth and gums. If you’re a smoker you have twice the risk of developing gum disease as a nonsmoker. In fact, tobacco use in any form raises your risk for gum disease.

Smokers and Periodontal Disease

If you smoke, the more you smoke (or chew), the greater your risk for gum disease. If you smoke, the longer you smoke, the greater your risk for gum disease. Andy finally, if you smoke, gum disease treatments may not be as effective or successful. Do e-cigs do the same damage to your teeth and gums?

Research Study

The first research study performed regarding the effects of e-cigarettes on your teeth and gums was done at the University of Rochester Medical Center. By exposing 3-D human, non-smoker gum tissue to e-cigarette vapors, the researchers were able to study the effects of e-cigarettes on healthy gingival tissue.  The results were not what most people would have hoped for.

The Results

The results of the study showed that the vapor from e-cigarettes caused healthy gums to release inflammatory proteins that stress the gingival tissue, leading to damage and the possible development of disease. The flavorings used for their aromatic and tasty effects, can also cause damage on a cellular level. Although certain flavorings do more damage than others, due to the inflammation, as well as the fact that e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is already known to contribute to gum disease, the results of this first study indicate that e-cigarettes are as equally damaging to your oral health as conventional cigarettes