As the government has announced that it will be providing one million free vape starter kits to smokers in a pilot ‘swap to stop’ scheme, a UK dentist has revealed that e-cigarettes and vapes are actually having catastrophic effect on the nation’s oral health.
Dr Rizwan Mahmood, dentist and co-founder of Rüh Dental, said: “It is widely believed that vaping is not as harmful to the body as smoking cigarettes. Whilst this is largely true for wider health problems, the effect that vaping can have on teeth and overall oral health is significant. At a time when there is a national shortage of dentists, particularly NHS dentists, this move is wholly irresponsible and falls short of what the government should be doing to improve both the general and oral health of the British people.
“E-cigarettes and vapes release a multitude of chemicals that are harmful to the human body. One such chemical is formaldehyde which, when heated with high-voltage batteries, can lead to irritation of the nose, mouth and throat. Aside from potentially leading to respiratory distress, ingestion of this chemical can cause burns and ulcers in your mouth.”
