Vaping and your mouth: the evidence

Messages about vaping can feel contradictory. Some alarming media claims say it does as much damage as smoking, yet UK health bodies describe it as likely far less harmful for people who switch from smoking. For teeth and gums, a good part of the evidence is still uncertain.

What do UK health bodies say about vaping?

The NHS says vapes are likely to be far less harmful than cigarettes. They do not burn tobacco, so they produce no tar or carbon monoxide, two of the most damaging parts of tobacco smoke. The NHS adds that vaping still carries some risk, though a small fraction of the risk of smoking, and that its long-term effects are not yet clear.

A 2022 evidence review for the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) reached the same view. In the short and medium term, it said, vaping poses a small fraction of the risks of smoking. That does not mean it is without risk, particularly for people who have never smoked. Most of the studies it reviewed looked at effects over days, weeks or months, and it said studies that follow people for longer than a year are needed.

Your situation	What UK health bodies say
You smoke	Switching to vaping is likely far less harmful, but you get the full benefit only if you stop smoking completely.
You have never smoked	The NHS does not recommend vaping. The Oral Health Foundation says not to start.
You are under 18	Vapes cannot be sold to you, because they may contain nicotine or other harmful substances.

What does vaping do to your gums?

OHID found in 2022 that studies of vaping and the mouth were often of low quality. Of its 15 new dental studies, 10 were cross-sectional: they compare groups at one moment, so they cannot show that vaping caused a difference. Many people who vape also smoke, or used to, which muddies the results.

A 2025 systematic review of 40 studies, from researchers at Newcastle and Sheffield universities, found more plaque in people who vape than in people who do not smoke or have given up. It also found some effect on gum measurements, though no difference in measured pocket depth or bone loss. People who smoke tobacco did worst on most measures. More than half of the studies were rated unsatisfactory or high risk of bias, usually because of confounding, so the reviewers urged caution.

Bleeding was the exception. People who vape bled less than people who do not smoke, which the reviewers thought was probably an effect of nicotine on the blood vessels of the gums. The Oral Health Foundation makes a similar point: nicotine can reduce blood flow to the gums, slow healing and hide early warning signs such as bleeding, so gum disease can develop without obvious symptoms. It says vaping may raise the risk of gum disease. If you vape, gums that do not bleed are not proof that they are healthy.

In a 2023 summary, the British Society of Periodontology (BSP) says some oral health consequences are likely from long-term vaping, though fewer than from smoking tobacco. The BSP describes an analysis of a large US study that followed adults over time. It found no link with self-reported gum disease or bone loss around the teeth, but it did find more bleeding after brushing or flossing. The authors thought this could come from vaping or from giving up smoking.

The 2025 review counted four analyses of that same US study. Together they found higher odds of gum disease in people who vape, including bone loss. The reviewers noted that surveys like these rely on people reporting their own symptoms, and that smoking confuses the results.

Does vaping cause tooth decay?

Few studies have looked. A 2025 systematic review found only four that met its criteria. Three pointed to a possible link between vaping and decay. Three of the four were at high risk of bias, and when the results of two were pooled they showed no clear difference. The reviewers rated the certainty of the evidence as very low, so it is not yet clear whether vaping affects decay.

The Foundation names two ways it might. Some vape liquids are sweet, and vaping can dry the mouth. Less saliva means less protection against acid. Our guide to sugar and your teeth explains how sugar and acid affect enamel.

What about a dry mouth and irritation?

A 2021 review in the Journal of Dental Research, summarised in the OHID report, said studies of populations highlighted concerns over oral dryness, irritation and gum disease. The Foundation adds that a dry mouth makes mouth infections and bad breath more likely. A dry mouth has several possible causes, and our guide to dry mouth covers what helps.

It also says vapour contains no tar, the main cause of heavy staining from cigarettes, though nicotine can still cause some yellowing over time. Nicotine is a stimulant, and the Foundation says it may increase grinding or clenching of the teeth.

Does vaping cause mouth cancer?

You may come across a precise figure for how much vaping raises the risk of mouth cancer. The UK health bodies cited here do not give one. The OHID review described the research on vaping and cancer risk in people as growing but still modest, and said studies that follow people for longer are needed. It did find that people who vape are exposed to lower levels of many of the cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smoke than people who smoke. The BSP summary notes that alarming media claims, including that vaping causes cancer, often come with no supporting evidence.

None of this means vaping is without risk. OHID adds that cell and animal studies suggest vaping aerosols are not harmless for people who have never smoked, though those studies are hard to apply to people. Any change in your mouth that does not settle is worth having looked at, whatever you smoke or vape. Chewing tobacco and paan carry their own risks, which our guide to smokeless tobacco and paan explains.

If you smoke, what does switching mean for your mouth?

Our guide to how smoking affects your mouth covers what smoking does to teeth and gums. OHID reported in 2022 on recent reviews of vaping and oral health. They concluded that vaping would harm the oral health of people who have never vaped or smoked, but would likely help people who smoke and switch. The 2025 gum review fits that picture: on most gum measures, people who smoke tobacco did worse than people who vape.

The NHS cites a 2021 review. People who used a vape to quit, with expert face-to-face support, can be up to twice as likely to succeed as people who used other nicotine replacement products, such as patches or gum. The NHS also says the full benefit comes only if you stop smoking cigarettes completely.

NICE guidance, as the BSP describes it, says to use a vape for long enough that you do not go back to smoking. So use a vape for as long as you need to stay off cigarettes. The Oral Health Foundation says the longer-term goal should be to stop using nicotine altogether, which can come later.

NHS stop smoking services are free and give advice and professional support through the first months. A stop smoking adviser can also give advice and support if you want to use a vape to quit. Your GP or pharmacist can refer you, and you can find your local NHS stop smoking service. If you are pregnant, the NHS says to speak to a GP about your options for stopping smoking.

How can you look after your mouth if you vape?

The Oral Health Foundation advises:

• brushing with fluoride toothpaste last thing at night and at one other time in the day
• cleaning between your teeth every day
• drinking water if your mouth feels dry
• visiting your dentist regularly

It adds that your dentist, doctor or pharmacist can help you find support if you want to stop smoking or vaping.

When to see a dentist or your GP

The NHS lists the first four signs below as reasons to see a GP, and says a dentist can also help with ulcers, lumps, patches or pain in your mouth. These signs are very common and can have other causes, but the NHS says it is important to get them checked by a GP or dentist.

What we would do

If you have not been in for a while, a new patient exam is where to start. We examine your teeth, gums and soft tissues, carry out an oral cancer screening and take small X-rays where needed, then explain any options in plain language. Tell us if you smoke or vape, so that it is part of the picture.

A dental hygiene appointment assesses your gum health and checks for plaque build-up and early signs of gum disease. It then cleans, scales and polishes your teeth, with advice on brushing and flossing.

Support to stop smoking is not a service listed on our site. It comes from NHS stop smoking services, your GP or your pharmacist. If you would like to talk about smoking or vaping at an appointment, you are welcome to raise it.

To have your gums and teeth checked, book an appointment and mention that you vape.

Want us to take a look?

Book an appointment at whichever of our five practices suits you. We will check what is going on and talk you through your options.

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