Parents, do you know about Juuling? It’s all the rage. What You Need to Know.
First off, it’s important to note that vaping and Juuling is the same thing. Juuls are a type of vaporizer or e-cigarette, designed so discreetly that most people don’t even recognize them as an e-cigarette. The Juul, is a trendy vape that is a small, sleek device that resembles a computer USB flash drive and can be charged in a laptop’s USB port. Juul and the newest class of devices are discreet. Its subtle design makes it so easy to hide that teenagers are using them in school bathrooms, hallways and even classrooms.
Vaping devices otherwise known as E-cigarettes are battery powered and deliver nicotine through a liquid (called e-juice), which turns into a vapor when using the devices. The e-juice liquid comes in enticing flavors, such as mint, fruit, and a bubble gum dose of nicotine, which appeal to kids. One pod or flavor cartridge can deliver nicotine in excess of a pack of cigarettes.
Juuling is so popular now that it is now a verb: Are you Juuling? Most teenagers have little if no interest in smoking cigarettes, but Juuling is different.
So why the dental concern?
Vape juice contains Propylene glycol (PG) a liquid alcohol is “generally recognized as safe” in ingested food, but long term effects of PG if inhaled are not fully known. PG was noted in the study to bond with saliva and tissue in the mouth, leading to dry mouth. Dry mouth is a known cause of cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues. PG also breaks down into acetic acid, lactic acid and propionaldehyde — all of which are known to deteriorate tooth enamel and soft tissues.
Research also shows that when teeth are exposed to vaping aerosol that contains a mix of vegetable glycerin and flavorings, they carry four times more bacteria than teeth that haven’t been exposed.
Lastly, research done at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine shows that e-cigarettes lead to the same, and sometimes even broader, suppression of key immune genes in your respiratory system and nasal passages as traditional cigarette smoking. And just recently the CDC, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state and local health departments, and other clinical and public health partners are investigating a multi-state outbreak of severe pulmonary disease associated with e-cigarette product (devices, liquids, refill pods, and/or cartridges) use.
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