A number of factors can influence your oral health both positively and negatively. One extremely noteworthy lifestyle habit that has such an effect is smoking. It’s common knowledge that smoking harms your teeth and gums, but did you know that vaping does too?
Though many may think that vaping is better than smoking, it can give rise to a variety of dental problems such as periodontal (gum) disease and tooth loss.
Contact our dental practice in Orlando to learn more about how vaping impacts your oral hygiene.
What is Vaping?
Vaping refers to using an electronic or e-cigarette to mimic the action of smoking. E-cigarettes don’t use tobacco. Instead, it has a battery-powered cartridge that contains aerosol which you inhale. The aerosol has nicotine in it, which is a highly addictive substance.
One of the most popular vaping devices is the Juul. Even though it’s a smaller device, it still packs a punch and contains just as much nicotine as a package of ordinary cigarettes. There are a few vaping devices that don’t use nicotine, but the chemicals they utilize can still be harmful to your oral and your overall physical health.
Problems That Vaping Can Cause
Nicotine in any form can damage your teeth and gums. Several problems can arise as a result, including:
- Since nicotine reduces blood flow, this can lead to your gum tissues receding or dying.
- A dry mouth. Oral sores and chronic bad breath can result from this.
- Throat irritation.
- Swelling in your gums or inflammation.
- Bleeding gums.
- Gum disease.
- Increased cavities.
- Tooth sensitivity.
- Tooth loss.
If vaping is practiced for a prolonged amount of time, in more extreme situations, it may give rise to more serious complications like bone deterioration. Although vaping is not quite as detrimental as traditional smoking, it is a significant factor that shouldn’t be ignored. However, this topic still requires a lot more attention and research.
But, for more information about how this habit impacts your oral hygiene specifically, talk to an orthodontist near you. They’ll be able to answer all your questions and concerns.
Does Vaping Impact Orthodontic Treatment?
In short: yes, it can.
In order to receive orthodontic treatment and ensure that the process is effective, your mouth needs to be healthy. This is because orthodontic treatments like receiving traditional braces or Invisalign are lengthy and unhealthy teeth cannot be adjusted as quickly or as successfully. The potential of cavities, broken teeth, and damaged gums can set back your treatment. It can also play a role in how quickly your mouth is able to recover.
Therefore, it’s very important that you book a consultation with an orthodontist in Orlando.
An orthodontist is a dental professional that specializes in the identification and treatment of misaligned teeth as well as jaw irregularities such as overbites or underbites. Orthodontists seek to educate their patients and help them adopt preventative strategies to preserve their oral health and prevent further problems from developing.
They’ll perform a thorough examination of your mouth and may take a series of dental x-rays to establish an in-depth image of your oral hygiene and the degree of care that is required. They’ll also be able to identify whether this format of dental care is the right course of action for your unique case.
Are you looking to receive treatment for oral hygiene near you? Here at All Smiles Orthodontist, we look forward to addressing all your dental needs. Regardless of what type of treatment you’re interested in receiving, we’ll walk you through the process from start to finish so you know exactly what to expect.