Expert reveals shocking long-term side effect of ‘Vaper’s Tongue’ that will put many people off
An expert has explained one shocking long-term side effect of 'vaper's tongue' that makes the habit all the more unappealing.
There are numerous red flags and warnings that have been highlighted by health experts to those that may be looking to take up vaping, though here's another if you're still on the fence.
A dentist has previously explained the damage that can be caused by vaping, resulting in something called 'vaper's tongue', that can change the way your mouth works.
What is vaper's tongue?
Though many view vaping as a less harmful alternative to smoking cigarettes, the habit comes with its own caveats.
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There's a reason that the UK is banning the sale of cigarettes to future generations, and limiting the marketing of vapes, after all.
As the long-term effects of vaping are yet to be seen, many see it as a safe alternative, but it turns out that 'vaper's tongue' is a known side effect of the habit.
It can be described as the temporary loss or reduction of the ability to taste flavours while vaping.
Your smoking history, dehydration, overexposure to some flavours or becoming desensitised to flavours can also play a part.
What long-term side effects does it have?
Dr. Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, the chief editor of Dental Economics, and Tom Viola, RPh, CCP, a board-certified pharmacist with over 30 years of experience, spoke in a YouTube video on the Dental Economics channel about the dangers of vaping.
Viola revealed that it's about 'scalding the tissue' on our tongues, as vape pens generate temperatures around 120°C-150°C.
"You're inhaling that vape, that vape mist or aerosol, [and it] doesn't have enough time to cool off between the end of the vape pen and your mucosa, so you end up scalding, or burning, or somehow injuring your tongue," he explained.
The medical professional added: "The temperature still is pretty high when it gets to the back of your tongue where a lot of your taste buds are located, and so the association there is 'I don't taste anything anymore.'"
He warned that it would stop you from tasting anything nice again, or that it would make some things 'taste awful'.
Viola added that as well as irritating tissue, vaping can also lead to xerostomia, a condition which 'doesn't allow you to spread saliva [and] food particles around your tastebuds so you can taste your food'.
Are the effects of vaper's tongue permanent?
Viola said: "I think a lot of people realise that if they were to stop vaping for a certain period, they would find their xerostomia would clear up and their taste does return.
'But you know, vaping itself is addictive and it's really hard to stop vaping once it's become part of your lifestyle."
How much do we know about vaper's tongue?
Although a growing number of medical professionals are speaking out about vaper's tongue, there's not been much scientific research to really understand it.
Benjamin Chaffee, a Professor at the University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry, told Healthline: "There’s not currently reliable evidence to indicate how common the condition is or the mechanisms causing it.
"This is another example of the many things we do not know about how vaping affects the body. It’s a reason for more research and a reason to approach these products with caution."
Joshua Nair