Preliminary New Research Suggests That Vaping May Increase A Person's Risk Of Tooth Decay And Cavities.

Preliminary new research suggests that vaping may increase a person's risk of tooth decay and cavities.

Vaping e-liquid used in vape pens may coat teeth with a sugary, sticky film that promotes bacterial growth — like sucking on a stick while sleeping, said study author Dr. Karina Irusa, an assistant professor of integrated nursing at Tufts University. School of Dental Medicine is like a lollipop.

Adding artificial sweeteners and flavors to sticky aerosols may create the perfect breeding ground for cavities. "Sugar is food for bacteria," Irusa said.

The new study, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Dental Association, is considered preliminary and does not prove that vaping causes tooth decay.

But because vaping is so rampant among teens -- 2.5 million teens use it in the U.S. alone -- the possibility that it could increase this generation's risk of tooth decay is worrying, experts who study youth vaping explain.

The stickiness of aerosols may be to blame. "

PhD. KARINA IRUSA, Tufts University School of Dentistry

"We know young people are vaping 24/7," said Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, a professor of pediatrics at the Stanford University School of Medicine. "Interestingly, teens told us they would wake up in the middle of the night and get hit," said Halpern-Felsher, who was not involved in the new study. "They put vaping products under their pillows and vape all night."

The Tufts study focused on adult patients seeking treatment at the school's dental clinic. Of the 13,216 patients, only 136 said they had vaped.