BOSTON: Researchers at Tufts University have revealed through a study conducted recently, that vapes and e cigarettes are bounds to create a breeding ground for oral bacteria in the mouth, and therefore, result in increased risk for dental decay.
CDC surveys report that 9.1 million American adults and 2 million teenagers use tobacco-based vaping products, on a daily basis.
The objective of this study was to investigate the association of vaping with increased risk for getting cavities. The research team collected analysed data from 13,000 patients, aged 16 years or older, who were treated at Tufts dental clinics between the years 2019-2022
The results showed that 79% of the vaping patients were categorised as having high-caries risk, compared to just about 60% of the control group.
The team of researchers concluded that e-cigarette use contributes to a high risk of cavities in the sugary content and viscosity of vaping liquid, which, when inhaled through the mouth, sticks to the teeth.
The Tufts researchers recommended that dentists should regularly ask about vape use as part of a patient's medical history. That includes pediatric dentists who, according to the FDA/CDC, have recently increased to make up 7.6% of all middle and high school students in the US that use vapes or e cigarettes.
