Poppy Bilderbeck
A dentist has explained just how damaging vapes can be to your tongue, and this might be the final motivation you need.
If you've been ignoring the multiple red flags, alarm bells and warnings which have been flying around all over the internet about the dangers of vaping, perhaps a dentist's revelation about the joys of 'Vaper's Tongue' will finally help you kick the habit once and for all.
I'd given up smoking years before vapes were popped up on the shelves of every newsagent and supermarket in the UK, however, seeing their cute, colourful packaging and realising I could puff away indoors while bent over my laptop in a flurry of stress as I worked from home, it didn't take long for me to give them a try.
Shockingly, it didn't take long before I became addicted and so, like another vaper, I decided to go cold turkey.
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The UK has launched a crackdown on the devices, tightening up restrictions and there could also be less flavours available, however, given the highly addictive nature of vapes - one vape the equivalent of a disturbing amount of cigarettes - some are finding it hard to quit.
But if you needed any more motivation to come and join the smoke-free side, then a dentist's revelation as to what happens to your tongue if you suck on those sweet, sweet flavoured e-cigarettes should help give you the final push you need.
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Dental expert at dentalphobia.co.uk Dr. Rhona Eskander has revealed you can end up with something called 'Vaper's tongue' if you keep puffing away at your colourful little cylinder of fruity fumes.
And it turns out vaping doesn't just make your breath hum, but 'vaper's tongue' actually sees 'a loss or reduction in a person's ability to taste flavours when vaping,' Dr. Eskander says.
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She continued: "Vaper's tongue, or the temporary loss or reduction in the ability to taste flavours when vaping, can occur for several reasons when using vape devices."
Those reasons include ‘olfactory fatigue’ which is when you become ‘desensitised to the flavour’ because of your nose.
It can also occur because of: ‘Overexposure to Certain Flavours’, dehydration, individual variability and smoking history.
While vaper’s tongue is an ‘annoyance’ and ‘frustrating', it is ‘not inherently dangerous’.
It’s more of a ‘temporary and reversible condition’, so it doesn’t typically pose a direct danger to your health.
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The dental expert does add: "However, the concern with vaper's tongue lies in the potential for it to mask other health issues. In some cases, persistent or severe taste issues might be indicative of underlying oral health problems or even systemic health issues.
"Therefore, if a person experiences ongoing taste problems while vaping or using any other tobacco or nicotine products, it's important to consult a healthcare professional or dentist to rule out more significant health concerns."
To prevent vaper’s tongue, Dr. Eskander recommends switching to different flavours and staying hydrated.
They also recommend: "Try smelling coffee beans or other strong, neutral scents to 'reset' their olfactory senses."