E-cigarettes are on the rise. It's estimated that within 10 years e-cigarettes will outsell tobacco products, since they are considered a safer and less expensive alternative to smoking. Yet, many traditional smokers continue to consume tobacco through regular cigarettes as well as e-cigarettes. Almost 15,000 e-cigarette stores popped up over a few years. Similar to their analog counterpart, e-cigarettes are at the heart of a developing controversy. The most prominent concern is safety, for both smokers and non-smokers. Smoking has been linked to cancer and heart disease, and while e-cigarette consumers will argue that e-cigarettes are a safer method of tobacco use, there are still health-related side effects. Due to the lower cost, and ability to smoke indoors, there has been concern that e-cigarettes are becoming a gateway drug for nonsmokers and teens.
What Are E-Cigarettes?
The battery powered electronic device contains a cartridge with e-juice (made up of vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol and liquid nicotine) and a heating element to produce vapor. Since vapor is produced instead of smoke, the amount of toxic chemicals emitted are significantly reduced. This battery powered device also reduces the odor that normally accompanies smoking. Artificial flavors are also added to produce pleasant scents like bubble gum and pop tarts. But are e-cigarettes safe?
How Vaping Affects Your Oral Health
Unlike smoking a cigarette - which can cause yellow teeth, plaque buildup, and lung cancer - the ingredients contained in e-cigarettes don't contain harmful chemicals that cause tooth discoloration. The mixture of distilled water, artificial flavor, and liquid nicotine turns into a vapor that doesn't contribute to tooth decay. However, nicotine does reduce your saliva production which can lead to other side effects:
Nicotine Can...
However, it remains unclear if e-cigarettes are safer than tobacco. It still contains nicotine which can cause irritability and anxiety for those who are trying to quit smoking. It's also debatable whether propylene glycol is safe for inhalation.
It's important to remember that since e-cigarettes are relatively new there aren't many studies that can speak to its long-term effects on our oral health. While it's a better alternative for smokers, non-smokers who are curious about vaping should keep in mind that this recreational activity can contribute to some major health concerns, and that the effects of vapor exposure aren't largely known.
If you have any other questions about e-cigarettes please contact us for additional information.
Our fees are based on the most current Ontario Dental Association fee guide for General Practitioners for general dental services and the most current Ontario Dental Association fee guide for Specialists for specialty dental services.
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At Kaydental, we believe that a fair fee is one of the key features in building a strong patient-doctor relationship. At our North York dental office, we follow the suggested fee guide for General Practitioners from the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) in order to maintain pricing stability and keep patients in the know about the price of every service and product they pay for.
If you have any questions about the costs of any of our dental services, please contact us so one of our staff members can clarify and guide you through the price determinations.
