Vaping Discussed During Dental Benefits and Oral Health Symposium

The inaugural Dental Benefits and Oral Health Symposium hosted by Guardian on September 26 brought together key leaders from several dental associations, nonprofits, brokers, and representatives from the public sector. Attendees had a chance to learn about key trends impacting the future of oral health and dental benefits in America, including vaping’s impact on oral health.

Thomas Hart, DDS, PhD, senior director of the American Dental Association Foundation and the Volpe Research Center, discussed his preliminary findings on the impact vaping has on oral health. Hart emphasized that while we don’t yet know the long-term health effects of vaping, it appears to have negative impacts on oral health—including the damage caused to teeth by e-cigarette aerosols.

Guardian also released a brief revealing key statistics about working Americans and vaping. The study concluded that one in 10 U.S. workers report using a vaping device or e-cigarette, and nearly half say they vape daily. Of the total number of vapers in the United States, 21% are millennials. The drawbacks that most Americans do not realize is that vaping can cause significant damage to the oral cavity, including caries and damage to tooth enamel and mouth cells. The lack of awareness of these risks is a critical issue, with 64% of working Americans who vape answering that they “probably” or “definitely” would quit vaping if they knew vaping was harmful to their health.

Find out more about the event at guardianlife.com