Vaping - the next public health disaster?
image by Getty imagesThe rising incidence of vaping, particularly amongst our teens and young adults has been gaining a lot of attention in the media lately. While debate rages over many aspects of vaping – from use as a smoking cessation tool to it’s use as a gateway to smoking - the impacts on oral health are starting to become apparent.
Vaping – what exactly is it?
A vape, or e-cigarette works by heating a liquid held in the cartridge, turning it into vapour which is inhaled by the user. In Australia, the sale of nicotine containing vapes is banned, however recent studies have shown that up to 60% of ‘nicotine free’ vapes do indeed contain nicotine. This is alarming, given the increasing rate of uptake amongst young people, lulled into a false sense of security, believing vaping to be innocent and safe. In 2017, 14% of Australian teenagers had tried vaping, compared to 32% in 2022. Of these, over 50% had never smoked a cigarette. In what should be considered a big red flag, it is Big Tobacco companies that are behind the sale of vapes around the world.
Is vaping harmful?
It is not known yet just how harmful vaping is. What is known is that vaping is not safe, may cause death through e-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury and is not better for general health or oral health than cigarettes. A recent Australian study found that all vapes of the 65 sampled contained ingredients which are known to be harmful to the body, with none of the vape packaging listing the ingredients accurately.
What are the impacts on oral health?
The impacts of vaping which are more readily discussed tend to focus on lung health – and rightly so – vapes contains chemicals which are known to be toxic, causing irreversible lung damage. What is discussed less often is the impact on oral health. Sadly, the news there is no better. From the research currently available, it has been found that vaping is associated with increased incidence of oral cancers, periodontal disease and dental decay.
What do the experts say?
The experts agree that at this stage, not enough is known about the full extent of the harm of vaping. In time, more research will provide us with a clearer picture, however until then the message is clear – avoid vaping and do not consider it an alternative to smoking, nor a smoking cessation tool.
For more evidence based information and resources about vaping, please visit: