Does Vaping Without Nicotine Harm Your Teeth?

Nicotine vaping can boost your risk for tooth decay, stain your teeth yellow, lead to gum disease, and increase your risk for oral cancer. None of those are ideal outcomes if you want to maintain a healthy mouth and a bright white smile. But does vaping without nicotine harm your teeth, too?

If you think you’re in the clear because you hit no-nicotine vapes, think again. Even the healthiest, zero-nic vapes made with plant-based ingredients can potentially affect your oral health.

In this article, we reveal the effects that non-nicotine vapes can have on your teeth and gums. We identify how your dentist might be able to detect that you’re vaping (even when you say you’re not) and explore some healthier vaping alternatives that may help you quit vaping for good.

So, Does Vaping Without Nicotine Harm Your Teeth?

Can vaping without nicotine affect your teeth? Absolutely.

Nicotine is but one of many ingredients in vape juice. Even if you vape without it, other ingredients in e-liquids can damage your teeth and negatively impact your oral health.

Vegetable glycerine (VG) and propylene glycol (PG) are two of the most common ingredients in vape juices. It’s these ingredients that simulate the smoking experience — and both can have an adverse effect on your teeth, gums, mouth, and throat.

VG and PG are not deadly, toxic ingredients. They are common food additives in everything from salad dressings and energy bars to ice cream and spice blends. But digesting them is pretty different from inhaling them.

When inhaled, VG and PG break down into acids that can damage tooth enamel, irritate the soft tissues of the mouth and gums, cause dry mouth, and inhibit saliva production.

Even when they’re free of teeth-staining nicotine, VG and PG can put you at greater risk of cavities and gum disease. Softened, damaged enamel can also cause plaque and other harmful bacteria to grow at the gumline.

While some vape brands use natural flavors that don’t contain added sugars or sweeteners, many include sugar additives. Sweet, sugary flavorings can also cause bacteria to stick to the surface of the teeth and soft tissues.

Because non-nicotine vapes can increase dry mouth, bad breath may be an unintended side effect. Before you pick up your next vape pen — even if it’s nicotine-free and made with all-natural plant-based ingredients — be aware that you may be putting your teeth, gums, and mouth tissues at risk.

Are Nicotine-Free Vapes Worse for Your Oral Health Than Nicotine Vapes?

Because nicotine is a toxic, habit-forming chemical, it’s safe to say that nicotine-free vapes are NOT worse for your oral health than their nic-filled counterparts.

Abstaining from vaping is the healthiest alternative, but if you’re not ready to give up vaping for good, it’s better to continue the habit with nicotine-free vape pens than those filled with nicotine-fueled e-liquids.

Many brands make tasty, satisfying vapes without nicotine, but our ARRØ plant-powered puffs are some of the best nicotine-free vapes on the market. While all vapes carry potential side effects, our vapes offer many benefits as well — including helping you satisfy your oral fixation when trying to quit smoking cigarettes or vaping with nicotine.

Our ARRØ aromatherapy devices are available in ten delicious flavors like Jolly Blue Razz, Strawberry Ice, Magic Mint, and Georgia Peach. Each disposable device is formulated with food-safe vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, and natural and artificial flavors.

ARRØ nicotine-free vapes are free of harmful chemicals like diacetyl, formaldehyde, and Vitamin E acetate, and we make two different devices that deliver ultra-satisfying throat hits.

If you prefer a small vape that’s easy to conceal in the palm of your hand, check out our ARRØ Max aromatherapy inhaler. The ARRØ Max device ships with 5,000 puffs worth of e-juice count and can be recharged as needed with a USB-C cord.

Want a disposable device that lasts even longer? Our ARRØ Ultra is your best choice. This rechargeable device offers 15,000 inhales and features an LED screen with battery life and vape juice level indicators.

Shop all ARRØ aromatherapy inhalers here

Can Dentists Identify If a Patient Vapes With No Nicotine?

Every substance you put into your body can affect your teeth, gums, and mouth tissues, and dentists are well-trained to spot signs that you’re smoking or vaping.

While healthy vapes without nicotine may not stain your teeth the way smoking cigarettes or drinking coffee can, you better believe your DDS is looking at far more than just whether your teeth show signs of cigarette or beverage stains.

It’s a common misconception that dentists only look at your teeth. The truth is that they inspect your entire mouth for signs of tissue damage, periodontal disease, and gum inflammation. Vaping can cause all three.

Even without you disclosing the details of your vaping habit to your dentist, the inside of your mouth can be a clear indication that you vape or smoke.

The compounds in nicotine-free e-juices can reduce saliva production, which can dry your mouth, amplify the growth of bacteria and plaque, cause your gums to recede, and generate bad breath.

These compounds can also cause gum inflammation and discoloration and change the pH balance of your mouth, leading to tooth decay and the formation of cavities. All of these symptoms can tip off your dental professional to the fact that you vape.

Studies show that approximately 36% of people suffer from dental anxiety and have a fear of going to the dentist. If you’re in that group and want to stay out of the dentist’s chair, it’s best not to put your oral health at risk by vaping.

If your dentist asks whether you vape or smoke, be honest. Whether you’re suffering from dry mouth, gum inflammation, tooth decay, or pain and tooth sensitivity associated with increased cavities, honesty is always the best policy when communicating with medical professionals.

Will they give you a lecture on the dangers of vaping? Probably. However, knowing your habits will make it easier for your dentist to implement an effective treatment plan.

Besides Oral Health Related Issues, What Are Other Potential Side Effects of Using Nicotine-Free Vapes?

Zero-nicotine vapes are not 100% safe. Though they are considered safer than nicotine vapes, they can cause potential side effects that go beyond oral health concerns.

Unwanted Reactions

Non-nicotine vapes can contain a wide variety of ingredients, including natural essential oils, vitamins, caffeine, and naturally occurring compounds like collagen and melatonin. These can have all sorts of adverse effects on the body that can be exacerbated by your current health condition and medical issues you may suffer from.

It’s essential to be aware of all ingredients in your non-nicotine vape. This understanding is even more critical if you have a known allergy, as natural ingredients and flavorings can produce allergic reactions and trigger symptoms such as shortness of breath.

When shopping for non-nicotine vapes, stick to brands that disclose all of their ingredients on their website or product labels. At ARRØ, we are 100% transparent about all the ingredients we include. We want you to have peace of mind and know everything you’re inhaling before you breathe it in.

Shop our ARRØ aromatherapy devices here

Throat or Lung Irritation

Coughing and throat irritation are the most common side effects of vaping without nicotine. However, some ingredients in your vape juice can lead to much more severe consequences.

Some vapes include known harmful chemicals like diacetyl, which can lead to the condition known as “popcorn lung.” Referred to as Bronchiolitis obliterans in the medical and scientific communities, popcorn lung is a chronic lung disease that damages the tiny airways in your lungs and leads to excessive coughing and shortness of breath.

Known harmful ingredients like Vitamin E acetate and formaldehyde have also been linked to EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use Associated Lung Injury).

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC shed significant light on the prevalence of EVALI among vapers, recording and reporting more than 2,800 hospitalizations and 65 deaths from EVALI by February 2020.

While stricter regulations and laws have reduced the number of EVALI cases, some vape brands continue to formulate their juices with such substances.

What Are Alternatives to Using Nicotine-Free Vapes?

If you’re addicted to vaping nicotine and searching for a way to quit, many healthy vape alternatives can help you do so. Is quitting vaping altogether your goal? There are strategies, products, and techniques that can help you do that as well.

Whether you’re concerned about the look of your teeth, the smell of your breath, or the condition of your gums and mouth tissues, the best alternative to vaping is not to vape at all. Inhaling anything other than air into your mouth and lungs can harm your oral health.

People who vape to satisfy an oral fixation sometimes quit vaping successfully simply by chewing sugar-free gum, sucking on sugar-free lozenges, eating vegetable sticks, or drinking more water. While none of these will deliver the satisfying throat hit that comes with vaping, they can be effective strategies to help you replace the hand-to-mouth habit.

Devices like the Capnos Zero can be good alternatives as well. The Capnos Zero is a pressurized air inhaler that delivers nothing but air yet mimics the deep-hit sensation of a minty vape.

If it’s not the hand-to-mouth motion that’s holding you back from breaking your vaping habit, learning deep breathing techniques may be all you need to quit vaping for good. Deep breathing calms the body and mind and boosts mindfulness.

Mindfulness meditation can help you identify the triggers that make you want to vape. It can also alleviate the anxiety you feel when you don’t appease your craving with a much-needed throat hit.

Do Nicotine-Free Vapes Damage Your Teeth?

Vaping without nicotine can damage the teeth, gums, and soft tissues in the mouth. It can cause dry mouth, leading to tooth decay and gum irritation. Yet it’s always better to vape without nicotine than with it.

If you’re looking for tasty zero-nicotine vapes without known harmful chemicals, rest assured that our ARRØ plant-powered puffs are free of nicotine, caffeine, vitamins, minerals, supplements, and dangerous chemicals like Vitamin E acetate, diacetyl, and formaldehyde.

ARRØ Max and ARRØ Ultra devices deliver nothing more than flavored air in convenient, disposable devices that you can carry everywhere. For safer, healthier, more flavorful vaping devices that won’t cause nicotine addiction, check out ARRØ now.

Shop the complete collection of ARRØ vapes here