There’s more reason to consider that vaping is bad for dental health. 

A recent study published within the Journal of the American Dental Association found that folks who vape are at the next risk of developing tooth decay and periodontal disease. 

“Evidence on the potential oral health effects of vaping is scarce and there are limited data on possible links to each caries and periodontal disease. The authors assessed the association between electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or vape use and caries risk level,” read the background of the study.

The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study using patient records from 13,098 individuals who attended the dental school clinics from Jan. 1, 2019, through Jan. 1, 2022. Most of them didn’t vape (99.3%), while only a number of (0.69%) admitted using e-cigarettes. Among the many users, 79% had a major risk for cavities. 

The team established an association between using vapes or e-cigarettes and the caries risk level of the patients. They found that those that vaped had the next risk of developing dental caries. 

Based on a 2022 survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 2.55 million middle and highschool students within the country use e-cigarettes. The findings of the study suggest that they’re liable to affected by tooth decay and periodontal disease. 

Since vaping seemingly promotes cavities, users are liable to tooth loss if left untreated. Some lab studies also found that the vapor from e-cigarettes could promote bad bacteria growth within the month, in response to U.S. News & World Report. 

“If you happen to are vaping, bear in mind that there are potentially some detrimental oral health effects. If you happen to do vape, be sure that to say this to your dentist because it might be necessary to be sure that we customize your preventive routine to be a bit more aggressive than we might do for the common patient,” lead researcher Dr. Karina Irusa told the outlet. 

The assistant professor of comprehensive care at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston further explained that the dental bacteria that causes decay appears to turn into more virulent and aggressive when exposed to the vapor produced by e-cigarettes. 

Jennifer Genuardi, MD, an internist and pediatrician at Urban Health Plan in Latest York City, reacted to the study, saying the findings were unsurprising. 

Genuardi, who was not a part of the research team, told Medscape that the ingredients present in e-cigarettes contribute to the overgrowth of cavity-causing bacteria within the mouth. 

“We’re learning each day increasingly concerning the dangers of vaping. There’s a spotlight of today’s research on the effect of actions on our microbiome and the following effects on our health,” Genuardi noted.