"Anyway, easing off vaping sounds like a smart move—plus, think of all the money you'll save."
Yeah, saving money is definitely a plus...but honestly, I'm still kinda skeptical about how much vaping actually affects dental health compared to regular smoking. I mean, dentists do have a knack for casually dropping scary stuff mid-cleaning (mine mentioned enamel erosion and freaked me out), but are there solid studies on vaping specifically? Not doubting your experience or anything, just genuinely curious if it's really as bad as they say.
There's definitely some legit research coming out now—nothing super long-term yet, but early studies do show vaping can dry out your mouth and mess with saliva flow, which indirectly leads to enamel issues. Dentists aren't just trying to scare ya...though we do have our moments, lol.
"early studies do show vaping can dry out your mouth and mess with saliva flow, which indirectly leads to enamel issues."
Interesting you mention that...my daughter started vaping last year (teenagers, right?), and at her last dentist visit, they pointed out her mouth was unusually dry. She'd been complaining about sensitive teeth too, which we didn't connect at first. Makes me wonder if anyone else has noticed similar issues with sensitivity or dryness after vaping regularly? Seems like there's more to this than just scare tactics from dentists, haha.
I've noticed something similar actually. I started vaping casually about two years ago, mostly just socially at first, but then it became a daily habit. Didn't really think much of it until my orthodontist pointed out my gums seemed irritated and asked if I'd changed anything in my routine. At first, I brushed it off as just anxiety (I'm always paranoid about dental stuff anyway), but then I realized my mouth was definitely feeling drier than usual, especially in the mornings. Also started noticing some sensitivity when drinking cold water or eating ice cream, which never used to happen before.
Honestly, I thought maybe I was just imagining things or being overly cautious, but seeing others mention similar experiences makes me think there's definitely something to it. I've cut back recently and started drinking more water, and it seems to help a bit...but still kinda worried about long-term effects. Guess dentists aren't just trying to scare us after all, haha.
Yeah, you're definitely not imagining things. Vaping can really dry out your mouth, and that dryness can lead to irritation and sensitivity over time. I had a friend who went through something similar—she started noticing her gums were more sensitive and even had some mild bleeding when brushing. She freaked out thinking it was gum disease, but her dentist explained it was probably linked to vaping. She cut back significantly, started using a moisturizing mouthwash, and things improved pretty quickly.
It's great you're already drinking more water—that helps a ton. You might also try chewing sugar-free gum occasionally to boost saliva production (sounds weird, but it works). Honestly, dentists aren't just trying to scare us; they're usually onto something, haha. Good on you for paying attention and making changes early...your smile will thank you later.
