There’s nothing cool about kissing someone with bad breath and a bad smile, so don’t sweat it.
That’s the message from oral health specialist Dr Sven Bohnstedt, who urges young people to think about the lifelong effects of vaping on their appearance – as well as their health.
Dr Bohnstedt, a senior lecturer in dentistry at the University of Queensland, said when propylene glycol and vegetable glycerines were heated and consumed through a steam, they formed on a person’s teeth, causing stains and a reduced flow of saliva.
“Saliva is the only defense mechanism teeth have,” he said.
“A reduced saliva flow can lead to changes in bacteria and enamel becoming more susceptible to decay.”
Sweet drinks consist of the effects of steam
The effects are compounded if vapers consume sugary beverages, such as flavored milk, energy drinks, or soft drinks.
Dr Bohnstedt said dry mouth was also a common side effect of vaping, which can cause bad breath.
“We all like to have a nice smile, and especially for young adults,” he said.
“I think it’s clear that the vaping companies have realized that young people are their target audience … because if you look at most vapes, they have things like, ‘We rock’ and stuff like that on them, which encourage young people to see them as cool.
“But when you have an unhealthy smile, or you have decay, or you have bad halitosis … there’s nothing cool about kissing someone with bad breath and a bad smile, so please, just consider your future. “
Raising a threat to public health
Health experts are concerned about the effects of vaping – with or without nicotine.
Health chief John Gerrard warned of the emergence of vaping as a threat to public health in his first Health of Queenslanders report released earlier this year.
Data in the report suggested that in 2022, almost one in five Queenslanders had tried e-cigarettes at some stage and 14.5 per cent of 18 to 29-year-olds were current vapers.
“Based on trends from 2018 to 2022, current use of e-cigarettes increased 40 percent over the time period,” the report states.
Dr Bohnstedt, a periodontist on the Gold Coast, said fumes affect “the entire oral environment”, including the risk of infection and the quality of oral bacteria, increasing the risk of cancer as well as gum disease.
“The action is a high risk for periodontal disease,” he said, referring to infections and inflammation of the gums and bone that surround and support the teeth.
“As we age, periodontal disease becomes more important in tooth preservation.
“If you lose perfectly good teeth to gum disease, I think that’s really sad.”
He urged young people not to start vaping in the first place.
Dr Bohnstedt was backed by Queensland dental chief Mark Brown, who said by affecting users’ teeth, vaping could also affect self-esteem.
“If you smoke or vape, it’s very important to see your dentist regularly,” Dr Brown said.
“They will do regular oral health and oral cancer checks.”
Health experts encouraged anyone who wants to stop vaping to contact the Quitline on 13 78 48.
