In the summer, the rise in the number of children vaping was in the spotlight, receiving widespread coverage in the media. The YouGov youth survey for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), published in July, found that between 2020 and 2022, vaping rates had nearly doubled among 11 to 17-year-olds.[i] The most frequently used product was a disposable vape, which come in kits containing five brightly coloured devices (they look a bit like a packet of felt-tip pens), costing around £5. According to the YouGov/ASH survey, the rise in disposable vapes has “happened concurrently with higher levels of youth use,” although it states there is no proof that this is a causal relationship “in either direction.”[ii]
The survey found that “I like the flavour” was the most common reason given for using a vape; one of the most popular disposable brands sells flavourings including Banana Milk, Strawberry Cheesecake and Juicy Peach. There have been calls for more limits on advertising and promotion, with evidence to suggest that young people (whether they’re ‘ever’ or ‘never’ vapers) became aware of these products after being exposed to marketing in shops or online. The most common source of online exposure to vaping is the video sharing app TikTok.[iii] In 2021, a study examined over 800 e-cigarette/vaping-related videos on the platform, concluding that a “majority (63%) portrayed e-cigarette use positively, (and these were) collectively viewed over a 1.1 billion times.”[iv]
You may be talking to parents, who are worried about their children using disposable vapes. The clear message to deliver is that children must not be vaping; it’s also an offence in the UK to sell the devices and liquids to anyone under 18. Despite the appealing colours and flavours, vapes are aids to help adult smokers of ‘regular’ cigarettes to cut down, or stop smoking and to give them the best change of staying stopped. The NHS still recommends vapes to adult smokers for this reason – they do not burn tobacco, produce tar or carbon monoxide. They do contain nicotine though, which we know to be highly addictive, hence why they can be used to manage nicotine cravings.
The NHS defines e-cigarettes/vapes as being safer than ‘regular’ cigarettes, not as risk-free. This is why non-smokers are advised to not start vaping. E-cigarettes and vapes have only been sold since 2007, the industry is relatively new and therefore there is no long-term evidence available. There have been stories coming out of America that linked vaping to serious and fatal lung injury; it should be noted that the market is regulated differently there, with some of the chemicals found in US vapes being banned here.[i] Orally there is a strong correlation between propylene glycol (used to produce the sweet flavour) and xerostomia and rumours of an increase in caries rate. Research has also looked at vaping and periodontal disease, concluding that although the “available results point to increased destruction of the periodontium” there is not enough data to “fully characterise the impacts of vaping and periodontitis”.[ii]
[i] Is vaping harmful? Cancer Research UK. Page reviewed March 2021. Link: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/smoking-and-cancer/is-vaping-harmful (accessed July 2022).
[ii] Figueredo CA, Abdelhay N, Figueredo CM, Catunda R, Gibson MP. The impact of vaping on periodontitis: A systematic review. Clinical and Experimental Dental Research. 2021 Jun; 7(3):376-84.
It is vital that we get as many people as we can to stop smoking. This is why ongoing research into vaping is so important, as it will allow us to discover how to best protect young people from starting the vape habit, while sanctioning the use of nicotine-replacement devices for smokers who want to quit.
Adolescents are vulnerable to a host of influences, that can lead them to making poor choices for their health and wellbeing. Empathy is crucial, while educating them and their families about alternatives that will make them feel good about themselves, and help them to avoid disease. Oral health consultations should cover diet and smoking cessation, along with the daily hygiene practises that will enable them to smile with confidence. Show them how to brush correctly and the tools to use – TANDEX has options for all ages and dental situations. A beautiful smile to be proud of is a valuable asset, and achievable with the support of the dental team.
Youth vaping is something people are worrying about, even though the incidence has remained low and mostly experimental for “never” smokers.[vii] While we are still accumulating the quality clinical data, vigilance is needed about vaping, while teaching what we do know – that non-smokers should not develop the habit.
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Author Kimberley Lloyd- Rees on behalf of Tandex
Kimberley graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2010, where she now works as a clinical tutor in Dental Hygiene and Therapy as well as working in practice. She has spent her career working across a variety of specialist private and mixed dental practices, for the MOD and volunteering her time to a dental charity in Nepal.
[i] Use of e-cigarettes (vapes) among young people in Great Britain. Key Findings. ASH, July 2022. Link: https://ash.org.uk/information-and-resources/fact-sheets/statistical/use-of-e-cigarettes-among-young-people-in-great-britain-2022/ (accessed July 2022).
[ii] ASH, July 2022.
[iii] ASH, July 2022.
[iv] Sun T, Lim CC, Chung J, et al. Vaping on TikTok: a systematic thematic analysis. Tobacco Control. Published Online First: 26 July 2021. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056619
[v] Is vaping harmful? Cancer Research UK. Page reviewed March 2021. Link: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/smoking-and-cancer/is-vaping-harmful (accessed July 2022).
[vi] Figueredo CA, Abdelhay N, Figueredo CM, Catunda R, Gibson MP. The impact of vaping on periodontitis: A systematic review. Clinical and Experimental Dental Research. 2021 Jun; 7(3):376-84.
[vii] ASH, July 2022.
