(ThyBlackMan.com) There has been a lot of debate over whether smoking e-cigs is better for your health than smoking tobacco. While the vapor you inhale from smoking electronic cigarettes does not contain all the harmful chemicals contained in tobacco, it still contains nicotine an nicotine can cause damage to your teeth and gums.
Teeth Staining
One of the advantages that smoking e-cigarettes has over smoking tobacco is that it won’t cause teeth discoloration. Tobaccos smokers’ teeth are often stained yellow. This is caused by the tar produced when tobacco burns. Because no tar is produced when you are vaping, it does not have the same staining effect on your teeth.
Nicotine and Dry Mouth
One of the harmful effects of nicotine is that it reduces your production of saliva, causing you to have a dry mouth. This makes 
your teeth and gums much more susceptible to the build-up of bacteria. Bacteria thrive in a dark, moist environment such as your mouth an plaque is continually forming on your teeth. It uses sugar from the food and drinks you consume to produce acids. Because plaque is sticky, it bonds these acids to the surface of your teeth where it attacks the enamel.
Gum Disease
The same acids that damage your tooth enamel can also cause disease to spread to the gum and bone surrounding your teeth. In the initial stages of periodontal disease you will notice that your gums appear red. They will become swollen and will bleed easily. This is because of the plaque adhering to your gum line and accumulating beneath your gums causing inflammation around the teeth. If plaque is not removed from these areas, the bacterial acids will damage the ligaments and bone surrounding the teeth. This will cause your teeth to loosen and you may begin to lose them.
Maintain Oral Health
If you are an e-cig smoker, it’s important that you take care of your oral health. Brush your teeth at least twice daily. Using a sonic toothbrush like the DiamondClean toothbrush can keep your teeth, gums and tongue cleaner and healthier for longer. Use toothpaste that will strengthen your tooth enamel. Flossing is also a good idea because it prevents bacteria from building up below the gum line. An anti-bacterial mouthwash will also keep bacteria to a minimum and will help fight tooth decay. It will also freshen your breath. You should visit your dentist for a check-up at least once each year.
As you can see, smoking e-cigarettes can be just as harmful to your teeth and gums as smoking tobacco. If you are a smoker it’s important to be extra vigilant with your oral hygiene in order to prevent a rapid build-up of plaque leading to gum disease. If you see any signs of periodontal disease, you should seek treatment straight away to avoid tooth loss. To maintain the highest standard of oral health, you should stop smoking altogether.
Staff Writer; Ricky Grant
