Using vapes can contribute to dental decay: Research

A vaping habit could end up leading to a tarnished smile, and more frequent visits to the dentist.

Research by faculty from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine found patients who said they used vaping devices were more likely to have a higher risk of developing cavities. With CDC surveys reporting that 9.1 million American adults-and 2 million teenagers-use tobacco-based vaping products, that means a lot of vulnerable teeth.

The findings of this study on the association between vaping and risk of caries-the dental term for cavities-serve as an alert that this once seemingly harmless habit may be very detrimental, says Karina Irusa, assistant professor of comprehensive care and lead author on the paper. The study was published November 23 in The Journal of the American Dental Association.

Reference:

Karina F. Irusa, BDS, MS,Matthew Finkelman, PhD,Britta Magnuson, DMD,Terence Donovan, DDS,Steven E. Eisen, DMD, A comparison of the caries risk between patients who use vapes or electronic cigarettes and those who do not,The Journal of the American Dental Association, DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2022.09.013