Other conditions resulting from vaping can include oral lesions, oral thrush, and what's known as “black, hairy tongue,” which occurs when discolored dead cells and bacteria build up on the tongue, giving it a black, fuzzy appearance. Oral lichenoid reaction may also develop.
"That's usually due to e-cigarettes decreasing the immune response in the mouth, which can lead to an overgrowth of bacteria and yeast," Ashack explained. These include a condition called black hairy tongue, in which the tongue takes on a dark and furry appearance because dead cells discolored by germs have built up.
Importantly, research has shown that even briefly vaping or smoking can lead to inflammation on the tongue and other areas of the mouth, and inflammation can contribute to a wide range of negative oral health issues. One study even showed that vaping can change tissue on a molecular level.
Patients who are well and who smoke or use strong, alcohol-containing or dehydrating mouth rinses may also develop oral dryness and hairy/coated tongue. The second factor is lack of activities that normally help the papillae to shed such as eating a soft diet or not eating much at all.
Damaged taste buds – one of the simplest causes, taste buds damaged from smoking, infections, alcohol, extremely sour foods, spicy foods and some medications can also lead to vaper's tongue. 3. Dehydration – possibly a surprising one but being dehydrated is another possible cause.
Symptoms of vaper's tongue can include a numb tongue, failure to taste your favourite e-liquid flavour or even experiencing an unpleasant taste from your trusted daily vape. Fear not, because vaper's tongue isn't anything to worry about as it's not permanent and there are many, many suggestions on how to cure it!
Vaper's tongue can last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. The highest reported duration from vapers who've experienced this condition is 2 weeks. The most common duration, however, is 2 to 3 days. Your vape tongue would recover faster if try applying known remedies to cure it.
Yup! A dentist will know if your teen vapes because nicotine smoked in any form negatively impacts oral health, specifically teeth and gums. Although e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco, they still contain highly concentrated amounts of nicotine, which can damage the mouth.
Black tongue usually occurs due to a buildup of the protein keratin on the tongue's surface. However, an overgrowth of bacteria or fungi within the mouth can also cause the tongue to appear black. Black tongue is temporary and tends to clear up without treatment.
Black hairy tongue is caused by an overgrowth of dead skin cells, causing lengthening of the papillae, and staining from bacteria, yeast, food, tobacco or other substances in the mouth. Black hairy tongue is a temporary, harmless oral condition that gives the tongue a dark, furry appearance.
Blackened tongue (pseudo-black hairy tongue) from using products containing bismuth, such as Pepto-Bismol.
With less saliva in your mouth because of the mouth drying effects of vaping, plaque bacteria can multiply and an infection below the gumline can occur. Left untreated, this infection can turn into gingivitis or periodontal disease.
If you unfortunately come across this situation, it's only temporary. Vapers tongue occurs sometimes with regular vaping, making the vapers feel like their tongue is coated with something so they can't distinguish flavors, while the vapor and the nicotine absorption will not be affected.
1: Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it's still not safe. E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic.
Restoring a Healthy Microbiome
If your oral microbiome has been disrupted due to vaping, it is possible to restore your mouth to a healthy, functioning system once again. If you currently vape, deciding to quit is an important first step to restoration.
No, a doctor cannot tell if you vape by looking at your throat. Although changes to the throat and mouth, such as a persistent cough, sore throat and dry mouth, can be caused by vaping, these symptoms can also be caused by other health conditions.
A "throat hit" is the sensation that you feel when you inhale nicotine. The amount of nicotine, as well as the temperature of the vapor, can impact the sensation you may feel as you inhale. If you are not used to smoking, the throat hit may lead to a sore throat.
It's common for vaping users to notice that their teeth are discolored, especially where the e-cigarette device is held in the mouth. This is likely due to the nicotine and tar found in e-cigarettes. Nicotine causes yellow stains on the teeth, and tar is dark in color.
Medications. If black hairy tongue still persists after an improvement in oral hygiene, it can be treated with antibiotics, antifungal medications, mouthwash or retinoids (drugs related to vitamin A).
A typical patient with BHT is an elderly male smoker on antibiotics or antipsychotics with poor oral hygiene, who presents with painless black hair-like lesion on the dorsum of the tongue anterior to the circumvallate papillae. It generally does not occur on the tip or sides of the tongue.
The term hairy tongue is used to describe an abnormal coating on the top (dorsal) surface of the tongue. It is a relatively common, temporary, and harmless condition that occurs in as much as 13% of the population. Hairy tongue can occur at any age but is more frequent in older age.
Additionally, individuals with dry mouth symptoms may be more prone to developing black hairy tongue. To help relieve the symptoms of dry mouth, try swishing with Oral-B Dry Mouth Special Care Oral Rinse, it's scientifically formulated to provide immediate relief for up to 6 hours.
Pellagra, a condition caused by niacin (vitamin B3) deficiency, may cause a thick greyish fur to develop on the dorsal tongue, along with other oral signs.