Can You Vape With Braces?

Can You Vape With Braces
The cost of braces is a serious investment in your future look. It needs commitment to oral care and following the recommendations of your dentist. Vapers are usually concerned about whether this habit will get in the way of their treatment. Although vaping will not physically bend your brackets, it may cause major issues with your oral health as well as the overall effectiveness of your braces.

The Direct Answer: Yes, But It's Risky

Mechanically, it is possible to vape with braces on. The vapour itself does not melt the wires or loosen the brackets. Nonetheless, it is the chemical and biological consequences of vaping on your mouth that pose the actual threat. The greatest concern that your orthodontist is concerned with is not the device itself but the interaction of the vapour with your teeth, your gums, and your mouth appliances.

Increased Risk of Gum Disease and Recession

Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, i.e., it reduces the blood flow. These will deny the flow of oxygen and food to your gums, making them suffer if the blood flow to them is cut down. This causes them to be much more prone to infection, which causes periodontitis (gum disease) and gingivitis (gum inflammation). This also leads to your gums pulling back as time goes by, and makes your teeth unable to stand as they would have done before because of the loss of the base.

Dry Mouth and Plaque Buildup

The major components of e-liquid, the Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (VG), are hygroscopic and hence absorb moisture. Chronic dry mouth (xerostomia) may result from vaping. Saliva is your mouth’s natural defence mechanism, washing away food particles and neutralising acids. Without it, plaque and bacteria can thrive. Since braces are already notorious for trapping food, a dry mouth environment significantly increases your risk of developing cavities around the brackets.

Staining and Decalcification

You are spending on a straight, white smile. However, vaping may ruin the end aesthetic performance. E-liquid may cause tooth staining due to the chemicals contained in it. Moreover, oral inadequacy during vaping may lead to decalcification. These are permanent white spots on your teeth, which are left behind once you have removed the braces, and this is where the brackets were. This is occasioned by the presence of acid-producing plaque, which demineralises the enamel.

Summing Up

Conclusively, vaping with braces is possible but discouraged. Nicotine causes mouth problems in the form of gum issues, vaping causes mouth problems in the form of dry mouth, and the braces pose cleaning challenges in their own right, which come to a head to form a perfect storm of oral health issues. Such problems can not only ruin your teeth and gums but also increase your treatment period and spoil the outcome. Leave the vape down until you get your braces off. Read More: Can You Vape in Pubs Can You Vape After a Tooth Extraction?