Effects of Vape Use on Oral Health
This article has been adapted directly from the National Institutes of Health. We feel that it is important to keep our patients as updated as possible on the ever-increasing popularity of vaping and the impacts that it has on oral health. According to a recent report from the CDC and U.S. News & World Report, “e-cigarettes continue to be the most commonly used tobacco product among both middle and high school students. About half of students who ever tried e-cigarettes reported currently using them, suggesting that many youths who try e-cigarettes continue to vape.”
Tobacco has been a substance used in many social environments of society for centuries. Its consumption was so widespread that the possibility that it produced positive effects on health was raised. In addition, the use of electronic nicotine-releasing devices (ENRDs) has increased in recent years, especially among adolescents and young adults [1,2]. It has been observed that the current presentation of these devices and the available commercial alerts are not clear enough to make consumers aware that vaping produces harmful effects [3]. Studies like that by Hang et al. postulate that better communication is needed to disseminate the harmful potential of vaping in the oral environment and note the importance of dentists as entities to help disseminate the real information about these devices [2]. It has been observed that the majority of ENRD users are likely to receive instructions from dentists to stop using these devices [4].
The first identification of “vape” terminology dates back to the 1960s, when inventor H. Gilbert introduced the first alternative to the conventional cigarette [5]. This device represented an innovation for the cessation of the taboo habit (a practice widely spread at the time) and lacked nicotine. Over the course of history, this device was progressively modified until it reached the current form of vapes [6].
The question that arises is whether this device can effectively contribute to the suppression of smoking. The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains that vaping cannot be considered an effective tool for quitting tobacco use [7]. Other specialists, such as the UK’s National Health Service, argue that vaping may be partially useful as long as nicotine doses are gradually reduced [8].
The mechanism of the vape consists of a battery that generates an electric current, which activates a filament located in an atomizer. This ignited filament causes the e-liquid (the inhaled substance) to evaporate in the cartridge, generating an aerosol [9]. It is important to note that the vapors produced by vaping are not only made up of water as each inhalation introduces nanoparticles, volatile organic compounds, carbonyls, heavy metals, and nicotine into our bodies, forming an amalgam of compounds potentially harmful to health [10]. In addition to this group, substances, such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein, that are considered to be possible cancer inducers are incorporated into the aerosol during filament ignition [10].
Therefore, vaping persists as an element detrimental to health, despite the misinformation circulating in our society about the absence of negative effects. The journal “Pediatrics” notes in an article that vaping use has become an increasingly common and harmful trend among young people. In addition, it highlights that future efforts should examine the progression and toxicity of vape use among young people and educate them about the potential dangers of these behaviors [10].
Undoubtedly, its use can be double-edged. Although the possibility of quitting smoking through these devices was previously considered, recent studies suggest the probability of developing a new addiction, especially in individuals who have never used nicotine, and this is more evident in the younger population [9,10].
In the clinical setting of the oral cavity, there is ample evidence establishing a connection between vaping smoke and an increased risk of developing gingivitis and periodontal disease [11,12,13,14]. The use of the vape pen can introduce certain bacteria that contribute to the development of oral diseases in our body. In addition, there are studies that suggest that quitting vaping could be associated with an improvement in oral health [14]. In addition, the use of e-cigarettes has a negative impact on the antioxidant capacity of saliva, comparable to the effect observed in traditional cigarette smokers when compared to non-smokers. This decrease in antioxidant capacity translates into a decrease in the defensive capacity of the immune system in the oral cavity [15].
Therefore, given all the information provided, it is imperative to look for new data on vapers to give us a more complete and realistic perspective of the impact that these new trends can have on our health.
