E-cigarettes Shown to Damage Gums

Whether it’s for health or a hobby, we’re pretty sure we all know someone who uses an e-cigarette.

The business of e-cigarettes has boomed over the last few years. It’s no longer a business solely for weaning smokers off their habit. Vaping now even has a solid fan base of enthusiasts. A surprising hobby, but we’re not one to judge…

It all seemed too good to be true, a product that would taste nice, smell nice, reduce the levels of toxins you were breathing in and giving you your nicotine fix at the same time. It seems our suspicions turned out to be true. The University of Rochester Medical Center conducted a study that discovered the damage e-cigarettes actually do. It appears that e-cigs are as damaging to teeth and gums as conventional cigarettes!

This is the first study of its kind. Up until now, the public was unsure what the negatives of vaping would turn out to be. It’s a fairly young product on the market so adverse side affects would become apparent over time. The study is published in Oncotarget. Irfan Rahman, Ph.D, Professor of Environmental Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry led it. The study zeros in on the detrimental effect of e-cigs on oral health on cellular and molecular levels.

It has been previously believed by scientists that the chemicals in the e-liquid would cause any adverse affects. However, the study shows that it’s unlikely that this is the case. The study exposed 3-D human, non-smoker gum tissue to the vapors of e-cigarettes, also found that the flavouring chemicals play a role in damaging cells in the mouth. Rahman explained:

“We showed that when the vapors from an e-cigarette are burned, it causes cells to release inflammatory proteins, which in turn aggravate stress within cells, resulting in damage that could lead to various oral diseases.”

“How much and how often someone is smoking e-cigarettes will determine the extent of damage to the gums and oral cavity.”

Rahman also published a study last year highlighting the negative effects of e-cigs on the lungs. He may have a bit of a bone to pick with vaping, or is he alerting us to a danger that is just as bad as the one e-cigarettes were trying to defeat?

They also learned, during the study, that different flavourings effected the cells more. It’s important to remember that e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is known to contribute to gum disease. Raham went on to stress that manufacturers should disclose all the materials and chemicals used, so consumers can become more educated about potential dangers. He also said:

“More research, including long term and comparative studies, are needed to better understand the health effects of e-cigarettes.”

In conclusion, we’ve not yet had enough time to learn the rest of the potential side affects of vaping. This could be the worst it gets, or it could be the tip of the iceberg.

If you are an e-cigarette user, has this study raised any concerns for you? Let us know.