Yes, parents can often tell if you've been vaping by noticing sweet smells, finding hidden devices (like USBs or pens), seeing changes in your health (coughing, anxiety), or detecting residue/vapor, even though vapes are designed to be discreet. Look for tell-tale signs like sugary scents, hidden supplies (pods, chargers), new respiratory issues, irritability, or greasy films in cars.
Parents indicate they would know by their child telling them (67%), finding vaping supplies in their child's things (57%), detecting it by smell (48%), or finding out from other people (37%).
Doctors can use certain tests to detect nicotine or other chemicals found in vape products: Urine tests: Can show nicotine or cotinine, a byproduct of nicotine, even if you only vape occasionally. Blood tests: These can also detect nicotine and its metabolites.
Signs of vaping include:
Short answer: vaping usually produces far less persistent, less offensive odor than cigarette smoke, but it can still create noticeable smells on clothes, hair, living spaces, and skin depending on device, e-liquid, and habits.
Signs a person is vaping
A vape smells like the flavor of the e-liquid that you're using. In most cases, people near you will barely notice the scent unless you're using a device that produces very large clouds. The biggest difference between smoking and vaping is the fact that vaping doesn't produce smoke.
Blood Test: A simple blood draw can detect traces of nicotine about two hours after use. Test priced at $70. Hair Follicle Test: This is a good option for parents who think their child has been either vaping or smoking nicotine for a long period of time and the child might stop using it just to get through the test.
Nicotine and VOCs: Nicotine vapor can oxidize and develop a stale scent over time, while VOCs in e-liquids are known to linger and cause unwanted odors.
Dentists can identify several signs that may suggest a patient vapes; one of the most common indicators is dry mouth or xerostomia. Patients who vape frequently may also exhibit signs of gum inflammation, such as redness or swelling, without the telltale tobacco stains seen in traditional smokers.
Nicotine, a common ingredient in most e-cigarettes, can lead to dry mouth, gum inflammation, and an increased risk of oral infections. So, when you ask if your dentist can tell if you vape, the answer is a resounding yes. Dentists can identify these symptoms and link them to vaping.
If the sensor detects the chemicals that come from a vape, it will alert staff and turn red.
Likewise, though some people may notice that vaping inside leaves a slight odour, this is much less noticeable than that of traditional cigarettes smoke. Again, this can be reduced by ensuring good ventilation throughout your home.
Yes, 1000 puffs a day is considered heavy vaping and is generally considered bad for your health, significantly increasing risks for nicotine addiction, lung damage (likepopcorn lung), and heart problems, as it often involves consuming large amounts of e-liquid and high nicotine levels, far exceeding moderate use (300-500 puffs) and approaching excessive levels where users might go through multiple cartridges daily, with heavy users potentially vaping 10ml or more of liquid daily.
Yes, lungs can begin to heal and show significant improvement after 7 years of vaping once you quit, with inflammation decreasing and lung function improving, but the extent of recovery depends on the damage; the sooner you stop, the better the chance for healing, though extensive, long-term damage might be permanent, emphasizing the need to quit for the best possible outcome and consulting a doctor for persistent issues.
Will my doctor or nurse tell my parents that I smoke or vape? No, not without your permission.
Stealth vaping techniques
Vaping indoors can leave a stale smell and residue inside your home. If you or someone else vapes indoors in the home or office, it can create a strong odor that doesn't just go away with an air freshener.
What is a dry hit? A dry hit is an unpleasant experience in which, when you take a hit from your vaping device, you are left with a bad taste in your mouth and a vapourless hit. This is often the result of there not being enough e-liquid on the wick, which leads to a dry, cotton-like taste in your mouth after inhaling.
Drinking plenty of water and herbal teas can help flush out nicotine metabolites, improving overall health.
Typically, vape scents smell like their flavoring. Since most youth vapers use flavored e-liquid, when they vape, you may smell bursts of flavors like fruit, candy or mint. One undeniable sign your child is vaping is finding their e-cigarette device or e-liquid pods.
While possession of a disposable vape is not illegal for those under 18, it is illegal to purchase them. The TSA may confiscate your device if they suspect you obtained it illegally. Although TSA is not going to card you to check that you're of age, it's best not to give them a reason to see what they can enforce.
While the smell from vaping is faint, you may catch a whiff of a flavoring. For example, if you smell bubble gum when there's no gum in their room or chocolate cake when you aren't baking anything, take note. It might be a flavored nicotine vape. Marijuana vapes can produce a skunk-like smell.
However, the smell from vaping can linger for longer than you might like, depending on a handful of factors. Fortunately, there are ways to help speed up the process and get rid of the vape smell, which we'll explain below. One quick thing to bear in mind is that a leaking vape can make you and your clothes smell.
Simple tricks like opening windows for ventilation, using air purifiers, and cleaning regularly can work wonders. Scented candles, essential oil diffusers, or even a trusty bowl of baking soda can also help mask or neutralize lingering odors.