Smoking has always been one of the hardest habits to break with many gizmo’s and appliances to help curb the cravings. One of the more recent and popular devices to help substitute or quit smoking are E-Cigarettes. For quite some time these colourful devices commonly known as “vapes” have become popular as they appear to be a beneficial substitute over a real cigarette. E- cigarettes have three major components; a battery, a cartridge and a heating element all without the use of many harmful chemicals and tobacco. At a first glance these e-cigarettes appear to be a great alternative for smoking, however, studies have shown that over time they can be equally as harmful to your mouth as a traditional cigarette. This may be because a 10ml liquid solution used to refill the e-cigarettes is comparable to 200 cigarettes worth of nicotine. Some key oral issues that Dr. Saxena has discovered are:
Regular e – cigarette usage puts users at a significantly higher risk of periodontal disease from increased exposure to nicotine.
Persistent dry mouth
Gum tissue and microflora may be affected by the e – cigarette liquid solution and can create an environment conducive to gum tissue mutation and changes in the microflora.
A recent study was conducted comparing the effectiveness of e-cigarettes vs. nicotine patches over a 6-month period and the results were inconclusive. This further proves that e – cigarettes may not be a superior smoking cessation aid in comparison to more traditional forms such as the nicotine patches.
Key Points to Consider about E-Cigarettes
The long term safety of e-cigarettes is not yet established
E-cigarettes may be less harmful than traditional cigarettes but do come with their own risks
Early indications suggest e – cigarettes can have harmful effects on gum tissue and microflora
E-cigarettes can act as a gateway to cigarette smoking by younger individuals and can often entice young smokers through the use of flavored vapes.
What is your verdict on E-Cigarettes?
Thank you.
Your request has been submitted. We will contact you shortly.
