As smoking rates decline and vaping rises, dental professionals must stay informed on how both habits affect oral health. While vaping is often viewed as a “safer” alternative, it’s far from risk-free.
The Oral Health Impact of Smoking
Smoking remains one of the most harmful habits for the mouth, increasing the risk of:
- Gum disease: Smoking is a major contributor to periodontal disease, accelerating bone loss, recession, and tooth instability.
- Implant failure: Smokers face significantly higher rates of dental implant failure.
- Aesthetic issues: Staining, bad breath, and a dulled sense of taste and smell are common.
- Oral cancer: Around 65% of oral cancer cases are linked to smoking, with a 91% higher risk compared to non-smokers. Cases in the UK have increased 38% in the past 10 years.
Source: Dentistry.co.uk
Vaping: A Safer Alternative—With Caveats
Chief Medical Officer Prof. Chris Whitty summarises it well: “If you smoke, vaping is much safer. If you don’t smoke, don’t vape.”
- Gum health: Vapers show better periodontal health than smokers, but results may be skewed by dual usage or past smoking.
- Tooth decay: Ingredients like propylene glycol and artificial flavourings may increase dry mouth and plaque build-up, contributing to caries risk.
- Cancer risk: Unlike smoking, e-cigarettes don’t produce tar or combustion products. While nicotine isn’t carcinogenic, long-term cancer risk from vaping remains unclear.
- Enamel erosion: Some flavoured or nicotine-free vapes may be acidic, but more research is needed.
Supporting Patients in Practice
Retiring dentists and those still practising should ensure their teams offer clear advice:
- Promote smoking cessation and suggest switching to vaping only as a temporary harm-reduction tool.
- Discourage non-smokers from vaping altogether.
- Use resources like Allen Carr’s Easy Way to Stop Smoking or the NHS Smoke Free app to help patients quit.
- Encourage regular dental visits, sugar-free gum, and hydration to mitigate dry mouth.
Smoking severely damages oral health, while vaping, though less harmful, still poses risks—especially to young users and non-smokers. For dentists, patient education remains a powerful tool in guiding informed decisions and improving long-term oral health outcomes.
