Hazardous Effects of Vaping on Your Dental Health
Is vaping bad for your teeth? It is a question many Australians are asking. While some people believe vaping is a safer alternative to smoking and use it to unwind, manage stress, or socialise, industry leading dentists remain concerned about its impact on oral health.
Although many assume vaping is less harmful than smoking, research shows it still affects your lungs, heart, teeth, and gums. The focus on respiratory and cardiovascular risks often overshadows vaping’s significant effects on your oral health.
So, does vaping affect your teeth? Yes, it does.
This blog will explain the main ways vaping can affect your teeth and gums, helping you make informed choices that support long-term dental wellbeing.
Excessive Bacterial Buildup
When someone inhales from a vape, the device’s heating coils release aerosolised harmful particles containing nicotine, diacetyl and even traces of heavy metals.
This vapour passes through the mouth before reaching the lungs, allowing particles to cling to the teeth and surrounding tissues.
This environment encourages bacteria to grow, increasing the risk of cavities, gingivitis, and other oral health concerns. Studies suggest vape users may double their risk of these conditions without realising it.
Mouth Burns
Vaping relies on high temperatures to turn e-liquid into vapour. These temperatures can irritate or burn the soft tissues inside your mouth and on your tongue, similar to scalding your mouth on hot food or drinks.
Many modern vapes allow users to adjust power levels, producing hotter vapour that can intensify burns. Avoiding vaping altogether is the most reliable way to prevent this type of oral injury.
Tooth Discolouration
Does vaping make your teeth yellow? Unfortunately, yes.
Vaping contributes to extrinsic staining on the enamel. When nicotine mixes with oxygen, water, and other compounds in the vapour, it forms tar-like particles that cling to the tooth surface. Over time, this causes yellow or brown staining, especially in frequent users.
Cavities and Periodontal Disease
Discolouration is only the beginning. Vaping can also contribute to tooth decay and gum disease.
Healthy saliva production helps protect the mouth’s natural microbiome. Vaping reduces saliva flow, making it easier for plaque to build up on the teeth. When left untreated, plaque hardens into tartar, leading to decay, inflamed gums, and periodontal disease.
Gum disease symptoms include recession, black staining along the gumline, a metallic taste, and persistent bad breath.
People with diabetes who vape face even higher risks due to already-reduced saliva production.
While early-stage tooth decay can be treated, gum disease is much harder to manage and may lead to bone loss in severe cases.
Mouth Cancer
Studies suggest that even occasional vaping may increase the risk of mouth cancer, even if the user is protecting their teeth with clear aligners.
Although vapes contain lower levels of certain toxins than traditional cigarettes, they still expose users to harmful chemicals. For example, formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, can develop when a vape coil overheats.
These compounds irritate the gums and mouth tissues and may elevate cancer risk over time. For this reason, avoiding vaping is the safest option for protecting your oral health.
Increased Vulnerability to Oral Infections
Vaping heightens your risk of infections, including oral thrush caused by Candida overgrowth. Many disposable vapes contain 20 to 50 mg/mL of nicotine, while some larger devices can contain up to 1,000 mg, equivalent to at least fifty cigarettes.
Nicotine contributes to oral infections by:
- Reducing oxygen and nutrient flow to gum tissues
- Increasing inflammation
- Reducing saliva production
- Weakening the mouth’s natural ability to control bacteria
Poor vape hygiene also plays a role. Unclean devices can harbour germs that lead to painful conditions such as acute stomatitis, marked by swollen and irritated gums.
Dental Care Tips for Vapers
We strongly encourage anyone who vapes to reduce their use or quit entirely. Start by setting achievable goals, attending support programs, and asking friends or family to keep you accountable.
If you currently vape, the following habits can help reduce the impact on your oral health:
- Brush twice daily and floss once a day
- Use an antibacterial mouthwash
- Drink plenty of water to counter reduced saliva flow
- Maintain regular dental check-ups every six months
Routine check-ups remain the best defence against the oral health risks linked to vaping.
