There are a ton of great reasons for you out there to quit smoking and many people have turned to the new mainstream alternative – electronic cigarettes. The thing is, without the FDA having proper control and regulation on e-cigarettes, there is now way to truly know how safe they are, or aren’t. While there are benefits of an e-cig over a traditional cigarette, here is a look at it from a dental prospective.
Pros: No More Stains
Along with saying good bye to smoker’s breath you can also say good bye to staining your teeth when you switch to an e-cigarette. This is really one of the biggest concerns of many smokers – none of them want to see tobacco stains. So why quit smoking all together when you could switch to an e-cig?
Cons: Same Risk of Periodontal Disease and Receding Gums
Unfortunately however, your risk of developing many other conditions including periodontal disease, which can lead to receding gums and even tooth loss, remains the same as that of a traditional cigarette smoker. The reason for this is that while you are no longer smoking the tobacco itself, you are still ingesting the same nicotine – and the nicotine is the underlying cause of these conditions in many smokers.
The Conclusion
While e-cigarettes seem like a great alternative to traditional cigarettes, there really is not much advantage. Your smile will still suffer the effects of having ingested the nicotine – especially if you vape as often as you smoked a cigarette. The only true benefit as far as your oral health goes, is the fact that your teeth will no longer run a risk of being stained.
Though, if that tooth falls out as an ill effect of nicotine, what good is the fact that it was unstained? The best decision for your oral health will always be to quit smoking if possible!