It is widely accepted that smoking or chewing tobacco is harmful to your health, including your oral health. Many people have turned to vaping as a healthier alternative to smoking. However, while vaping is preferable to smoking, it is not healthy, and its long-term effects are unknown. The New York University College of Dentistry recently completed a study on the effects of vaping on oral health and discovered a link between vaping and periodontal disease.

Periodontal Disease Is Linked to Vaping

Over a six-month period, the researchers examined the oral health of smokers, vapers, and nonsmokers. The study specifically compared the bacteria in the mouth and the concentrations of cytokines in plaque under the gums between the three groups. Everyone in the study had at least some periodontal disease, so the researchers were able to compare bacteria and cytokines from each participant.

They discovered that vaping appeared to promote the growth of bacteria in the same way that smoking cigarettes did. However, the bacteria profile was distinct, implying that vaping may pose entirely different oral health risks than smoking.

The Oral Health Risks of Vaping

Many people start vaping because they want a healthier alternative to smoking. People who used to smoke and switched to vaping to improve their health without quitting smoking may be unaware of the risks that vaping still poses. According to the NYU study’s findings, vaping does not pose fewer oral health risks than smoking. Instead, it poses a variety of health risks.

Someone who used to smoke but now vapes may not see any improvement in their oral health risk. Instead, they may be exposed to both the health risks of smoking and the health risks of vaping. Vaping is not a viable substitute for quitting smoking.

More research into the effects of vaping is required.

More research into the effects of vaping on oral health is needed, according to the researchers. “The use of e-cigarettes is a relatively new human habit.” Unlike smoking, which has been extensively studied for decades, we know little about the health consequences of e-cigarette use and are only now beginning to understand how the unique microbiome promoted by vaping impacts oral health and disease,” Dr. Scott Thomas reported. Dr. Thomas, an assistant research scientist at NYU, was the study’s lead author on vaping and periodontal disease.