Why It Is Still Not a Safe Alternative
Ever since electric smokers appeared on the market, people have wondered how safe they are. Everyone already knew that smoking was harmful to teeth, but they also wanted to know about vapor smoke. Vaping has become quite popular, particularly among the young, and no one really knew what the results would be. Now they know how it affects teeth.
The Harmful Ingredients
One thing that will enable people to relax a little is the knowledge that there is no tobacco in the vapor from an e-cig. This means that the 7,000 different chemicals in tobacco and its smoke identified by the U.S. Surgeon General, is not in an electronic cigarette. That’s the good news.
The bad news are that there is nicotine and other chemicals in the vaping liquid. Nicotine does come from tobacco, and many of the ingredients and flavorings are known to be harmful. According to the CDC, the Surgeon General has identified all forms of e-cigarettes (e-pipes, e-pens, e-cigars, and e-hookahs) as not safe. People are being misled thinking that the many flavors are not harmful.
Harmful to Cells in Mouth
In a study published by Oncotarget, it concluded that the various chemicals put into an e-cigarette are no less harmful to the cells in your mouth than what is found in ordinary tobacco smoke. This means that the effect on the lining of your mouth, your gums, and your teeth, may be the same – or even worse – than that caused by smoking.
One reason that an epuffer is harmful to the mouth is that the greatest concentrations of the chemicals enter he mouth first. The chemicals are also hot. Some of the toxins found in the vapor of e-cigs include a chemical found in anti-freeze (diethylene glycol), formaldehyde, and toxic metals, including lead, chromium, and nickel.
Effects
Dentists have seen patients who vape with a cough, indicating that it is affecting the lungs. Of course, many patients believe that it is harmless, which is just not true.
Inflammation of the mouth, with sores (called stomatitis), is another problem sometimes seen. It affects the mucous membrane in the mouth, the gums, tongue, and throat. Dry mouth (xerostomia) is also seen often. Another problem is that the chemicals can produce chemical burns on the tongue.
The nicotine, as well as the various flavorings, is known to damage the cells in the mouth. This can lead to mouth cancer. Nicotine is also known to promote gum disease.
Why It Is a Concern
The above effects may vary in different people. Some may have them much more pronounced than others. This is only half the story. Chemicals in the mouth and gums, as well as having dry mouth, helps to upset the balance of the good and bad bacteria.
When this occurs, the bad bacteria start to multiply and the gums become inflamed and bleed. As the bacteria multiply, they produce acid, which is destructive to the teeth and gums. Careful attention to brushing twice daily and flossing each day is necessary to control it. Healthy amounts of saliva are necessary, too.
If good dental care is not maintained, pockets on the gums will soon form, and these become places where colonies of the bacteria can grow faster. This is periodontal disease. Since it is now beyond the reach of a toothbrush, brushing and flossing will not stop it at this point. More acid is produced, the gums recede, and the bacteria destroy the support structures for the teeth, and the jaw bone. Teeth start to become loose, and some may fall out.
The Addictive Power of Nicotine
Nicotine is very addicting. This is why it is used in an electric smoker. It can lead to smoking regular cigarettes, and many people who use e-cigs use both. This means that they are getting the harmful effects of the chemicals from both, and the nicotine is likely to keep this intake of dangerous chemicals continuing.
Long-Term Effect Not Determined Yet
Because cigarettes have been around a long time, the results are in – it is not healthy to smoke. It took many years for the truth to come out, and a lot of people have died from smoking. If you are still wondering do e cigarettes cause cancer, why learn the hard way?
Unfortunately, e-cigs have not been around long enough to know all of its long-term effects. Many people still assume that it is harmless, but enough research has already been conducted to prove otherwise. Many of the vaping liquids are made in China, where careful controls of what goes into them are not regulated or supervised.
