29 November 2022

---

Using vapes may set stage for dental decay

E-cigarettes, similar devices associated with a higher risk for cavities

---

A vaping habit could end up leading to a tarnished smile, and more frequent visits to the dentist.

Research by faculty from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine found patients who said they used vaping devices were more likely to have a higher risk of developing cavities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveys report that more than nine million American adults — and two million teenagers — use tobacco-based vaping products, which translates into a lot of vulnerable teeth.  

According to a news release, the study’s findings on the association between vaping and risk of caries or cavities serve as an alert that this once seemingly harmless habit may be very detrimental, said Karina Irusa, assistant professor of comprehensive care and lead author on the paper.

The study was published November 23 in The Journal of the American Dental Association.

Over the last few years, public awareness has increased about the dangers of vaping to systemic health, particularly after the use of vaping devices was tied to lung disease. Some dental research has shown ties between e-cigarette use and increased markers for gum disease, and, separately, damage to the tooth’s enamel, its outer shell. But relatively little emphasis has been placed on the intersection between e-cigarette use and oral health, even by dentists, said Irusa in the news release.

Irusa said this study is the first known specifically to investigate the association of vaping and e-cigarettes with the increased risk for getting cavities. She and her colleagues analyzed data from more than 13,000 patients older than 16 who were treated at Tufts dental clinics from 2019 to 2022.

Nearly 80% of the vaping patients were categorized as having high-caries risk, compared to just about 60% of the control group. Patients who vape were not asked whether they used devices that contained nicotine or THC, although nicotine is more common.

Tufts researchers recommend that dentists routinely ask about e-cigarette use as part of a patient’s medical history. That includes pediatric dentists who see adolescents: according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and CDC, 7.6% of middle- and high-school students said they used e-cigarettes in 2021.

The researchers also suggest patients who use e-cigarettes should be considered for a “more rigorous caries management protocol,” which could include prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste and fluoride rinse, in-office fluoride applications, and checkups more often than twice a year.