Vape smoke contains both Toxic and Non Toxic chemicals:
Oral mucosa that is exposed to chemicals will incur changes to the epithelial tissue and promote the inflammatory response in the periodontal ligament resulting in periodontal disease. Chemicals in the aerosols found in vaping liquid or “juice” include:
Toxic chemicals
1. Diacetyl: chemical flavoring that is safe to ingest but unsafe when heated to a high temperature and inhaled; associated with serious lung disease
2. Benzene: a volatile organic compound found in car exhaust and linked to leukemia and bone marrow disease
3. Heavy metals: levels of lead, nickel, chromium, and manganese exceed safe limits for inhalation
4. Nicotine: addictive stimulant and potent parasympathomimetic alkaloid
5. Formaldehyde: This toxic chemical can cause lung disease and contribute to heart disease. Acrolein: Most often used as a weed killer, this chemical can also damage lungs.
Nontoxic chemicals
Nontoxic chemicals found in vaping liquid create palatable pleasure and increase risk for tooth decay. These include:
1. Propylene glycol: food additive sweetener
2. Glycerin: colorless, odorless, viscous liquid for sweetness
3. Flavorings
Heat: Is dependent upon the experience (dose) you would like to have. A light dose is considered to be 160–180°C (356–320°F), while a medium dose is 180-200°C (356–392°F), and a high dose is 200°C (392°F) and up.
Heat will result in a decrease in blood supply to the surgical area and promotes delayed wound healing. This heat creates a SUNBURN EFFECT on the gum tissue where the gum tissue can become sore and delay healing following oral surgery and can compromise dental implant surgery.
The most common vape temp is between 220 F to 455°F. This will create a burn which will irritate and reduce the quality of wound healing of the oral tissue and can compromise dental implant surgical procedures.
CONSEQUENCES of VAPING:
GUM DAMAGE AND DISEASE: Vaping exposes your gums to both nicotine and hot, drying vapor. It therefore also puts you at a higher risk of gum disease. In addition a number of studies have suggested a direct relationship between cannabis use and periodontal disease. Recent studies have tested the relationship between periodontitis and frequent cannabis use and adjusted for confounding factors, such as cigarette smoking, alcohol use, social status and other health issues. Significantly higher rates of periodontitis were observed among the frequent users compared to non-users, with significantly higher numbers of sites with high pocket depths (≥4 mm) and attachment loss
Furthermore, vaping masks the early warning signs of gum disease (swelling and bleeding when you brush). This is bad because it can make you think your gums are healthy when really they are not. Anything that exposes your gums directly to heat and nicotine will make you more likely to develop gum disease and increase the possibility of tooth loss.
If you have dental implants, vaping will also place them at risk. Vape users are more prone to peri-implantitis (inflammation around the implants). A study found vaping to be the primary causal factor of peri-implantitis by inducing inflammatory reactions in oral epithelial cells and periodontal fibroblasts. Clinically vape users showed the poorest prognosis when treated for peri-implantitis, followed by smokers and non-smokers (who showed the best prognosis).
POOR WOUND HEALING FOLLOWING ORAL SURGERY: Another study recently published in the Journal of Cellular Physiology found a high rate of mouth cell death with exposure to e-cigarette vapor over just a few days.
On analyzing the vapor-exposed epithelial cells under a microscope, the researchers identified a significant increase in the rate of cell damage and death and that with exposure to e-cigarette vapor, the number of dead or dying cells rose to 18 percent, 40 percent, and 53 percent over 1, 2, and 3 days, respectively.
Vaping can cause irritation in the mouth, which can lead to the development of mouth sores including thrush (candida infections) in the mouth. These sores can be painful and unattractive and may make it difficult to eat or speak.
While the cumulative effects of the cell damage caused by e-cigarette are unclear, the researchers believe their findings are a cause for concern.
Nicotine: The percentage of nicotine is much lower (0.3%–1.8%) than traditional tobacco products, one electronic cartridge (200–400 puffs) can equal the smoking of two to three packs of regular cigarettes. The dangerous effects of nicotine on gum tissue are well known. The literature suggests that nicotine affects gingival blood flow as it is a vasoconstrictor. It also affects cytokine production, neutrophil function, and other immune cell function. In addition, nicotine decreases connective tissue turnover. All of this results a much higher chance of developing gum disease and tooth loss.
CANNABIS: The cannabis plant contains more than 100 compounds (or cannabinoids). These compounds include tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is impairing or mind-altering, as well as other active compounds, such as cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is not impairing, meaning it does not cause a “high”.The use of cannabis, particularly marijuana smoking, has been associated with poor quality of oral health. The optimal temperature for vaping cannabis is between 375°F and 425°F (190°C and 218°C) because this temperature range is the most effective for releasing the cannabinoids and terpenes from the flower.
INCREASE IN CAVITIES: The Vape liquid contains propylene glycol, glycerin and flavorings, and/or nicotine, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or Cannabdiol (CBD). When plaque is exposed to the vape liquid the plaque creates a harmful acid. When mixed with flavored vapes which then increases your risk of developing cavities.
Propylene glycol (PG) is a viscous, colorless liquid that possesses a faintly sweet taste and is one of the
major ingredients of the e-liquid used in e-cigarettes. When used orally, the breakdown products of PG
include acetic acid, lactic acid, and propionaldehyde, which are toxic to enamel and soft tissue. In addition, PG is a hygroscopic product, which means water molecules in saliva and oral tissue will bond
to the PG molecules, leading to tissue desiccation. The result of this is xerostomia, or "dry mouth,"
which has been shown to lead to an increase in cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues.
Vegetable glycerin and flavorings: The other major component of e-liquid: glycerin and flavorings. Vegetable glycerin (VG) is a colorless, odorless, viscous, and sweet-tasting liquid. It serves as a
humectant, solvent, and sweetener. It is 60% as sweet as sucrose and is not metabolized by cariogenic bacteria, and is therefore thought not to cause cavities. However, studies have shown that the combination of VG with flavorings produces a fourfold increase in microbial adhesion to enamel and a twofold increase in biofilm formation. In addition, a 27% decrease in enamel hardness was demonstrated when flavorings were added to e-liquid as compared to unflavored controls. The viscosity In other words, e-liquid allows more cavity-causing bacteria to stick to a softer tooth and can lead to rampant decay. Cannabis Vape may also lead to xerostomia (dry mouth), reportedly last between 1 to 6 hours which can contribute to a number of oral health conditions .Further, the main psychotropic agent, THC, is an appetite stimulant, which often leads users to consume cariogenic snack foods. Regular cannabis users are known to have significantly higher incidence of dental decay than nonusers particularly on normally easy-to-reach smooth surfaces.
TOOTH GRINDING: Nicotine is a stimulant and can promote tooth grinding. Tooth grinding slowly wears away tooth enamel. This makes your teeth more susceptible to chips, cracks and cavities.
DRY MOUTH: Vape users have reported symptoms of dry mouth (xerostomia) linked to 1) the heat produced by the vape and 2)a volatile ingredient: isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol reduces the secretion of saliva and acts as a diuretic, resulting in dehydration and, eventually, dry mouth. This mechanism inhibits saliva’s natural flushing action, allowing more carious organisms to thrive and cause cavitation. This will result in a higher incidence of tooth decay and bad breath.
CANCER: It has been reported that a synergistic effect between tobacco and cannabis smoke may increase oral and neck cancer risk for people who smoke both.
Wishing everyone a Healthy and prosperous New Year.
Until Next time: Stay Safe, Stay Healthy and be Careful out in the World.
James A Vito, D.M.D