More than 16 million Americans live with a disease caused by smoking.
E-cigarette use has become prevalent in the U.S. over the past decade. According to a 2018 National Health Interview Survey conducted by the CDC, nearly 8.1 Americans are using e-cigarettes on a daily basis.
E-cigarettes came on the scene in late 2007 and have been the most commonly used tobacco product since. A large percentage of E-cigarette users are under the age of 24. Adolescents, teens, and young adults have been early adopters of the habit. However, some of the long-term side effects can be harmful to the oral cavity.
- Oral cancer
- Orthodontic complications
- Tooth movement
- Gum inflammation
- Oral bacteria
- Oral lesions
- Dry mouth
- Bad breath
- Mouth sores
- Tooth decay
- Tooth discoloration
- Canker sores
Bad oral health has negative effects on many other areas of the human body and can link back to things such as endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy complications, birth complications, pneumonia, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Contrary to popular belief, using e-cigarettes has not been proven to be a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes, and still has many harmful effects on the human body.
If you use tobacco in any form, it’s never too late to quit. For free help, visit smokefree.gov or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
Sources:
www.cdc.gov, nij.ojp.gov, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov