The Dental Health Dilemma For Smokers
Imagine the industries that have realized the financial loss thanks to the introduction of e-cigarettes. As people made the switch to e-smoking they no longer needed to pay for actual cigarettes nor did they need patches, nicotine gum, pills, etc. Since the invention of e-cigarettes controversy has circled around whether they are truly better for dental health. Today, our Edmond dentist is talking about the known differences between the impacts of cigarette smoke and e-cigarettes on dental health.
Traditional Cigarettes: The smoke (more specifically the chemicals like ammonia, carbon monoxide, and acetone) from traditional cigarettes causes discoloration of the teeth. Most people notice that the residue sticks to the teeth and creates a yellowish tint. Other long-term smokers may have light shades of brown on their teeth. Additionally, plaque buildup, bad breath, and cancer are all negative side effects of the smoke from traditional cigarettes.
E-Cigarettes: With e-cigarettes you don’t inhale smoke, but instead a vapor. The vapor doesn’t have the same harmful chemicals that a traditional cigarette contains. Being void of these chemicals means that e-smokers won’t notice any teeth discoloration, plaque buildup, or bad breath. E-cigarettes also allow the user to adjust their level of nicotine. It should be noted that should you choose to use nicotine in your vapor mix, you will still be subject to the same inability to produce saliva. This common side effect of nicotine causes smokers to have bacteria buildup, dry mouth, and tooth decay.
At this time, no other studies have proven that e-cigarettes cause any other dental health problems. Of course, as your Edmond dentist we’ll always recommend that you don’t smoke at all, but weighing the pros and cons here it would seem that e-cigarettes appear to be a safer alternative. Know the risks and trust your judgement. Our Edmond dentist wishes you a lifetime of good dental health!
If you’d like to check up on your dental health you can book an appointment by calling us at (405) 330-5458 or by clicking here.
