Nicotine satches and e-cigarettes already pose a threat to oral health

The use of icotine bags and electro-packaging, or vaping, has increased alarmingly in recent years. According to the THL Healthy Finland survey, one in four men under the age of 40 already uses nicotine sachets.

Among young people, e-cigarettes are increasingly common: in 2024, 21% of young Finns had used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, compared to 7% in 2019, according to the European School Survey.

Ritva Lindblad, senior dentist at Terveystalo, is concerned by these figures.

- We are only now seeing the first signs of the impact of these products on people's oral health. We know very little about the effects of long-term use.

We know very little about the long-term effects

However, it seems that as more research data becomes available, the perception of the harms of these products will also become stronger.

- Nicotine sachets and e-cigarette packaging have a huge impact on oral health in many ways and can lead to serious health problems. It is therefore extremely important to raise awareness of the harms of these products. I also think it is important for dentists to ask more specific questions about the use of both nicotine products and e-tobacco in their surgeries.

Which causes darkened teeth, nicotine or tobacco?

The effects of nicotine on public health are already well known: nicotine is highly addictive, causes heart and lung disease, impairs brain function and increases the risk of several cancers.

- In the mouth, nicotine pouches cause mucosal soreness and blisters and dry mouth. Nicotine also slows down the healing of wounds and bone, which can be harmful and cause complications, for example after tooth extraction," says Ritva Lindblad, a senior dentist.

Nicotine also stains teeth.

- People often mistakenly think that the tobacco in the cigarette they smoke causes darkening, but yes, it is the tar and nicotine in tobacco.

One reason for the popularity of nicotine sachets is the many flavour options. Particularly popular with young people is the fresh menthol, which increases nicotine absorption.

Lindblad warns that nicotine sachets may actually contain even more nicotine than cigarettes or snuff, as nicotine sachet labels are not always accurate.

- Studies have found that nicotine sachets can contain significantly more nicotine than what is stated on the packet.

In e-smoking, many health problems are caused by the vaporisation of flavourings

According to Ritva Lindblad, e-smoking has similar effects on oral health as traditional smoking.

- The clearest research evidence to date is that vaping increases the risk of periodontitis, the inflammation and gradual loss of the attachment tissues of the teeth, which can eventually lead to tooth loss. Up to 74% of Finnish adults have periodontitis.

Shivering increases the risk of developing periodontal disease.

According to Lindblad, a recent research review in the German journal Zahnaslääkäri, international and national studies on e-smoking have also found an increase in tooth decay, oral pain and dryness, and poor oral health in general.

- Decay may be linked to the fumes of e-cigarettes, as bacteria thrive in the heat.

Lindblad points out that vaping is not safe even when there is no nicotine in the e-cigarette.

- Many of the substances added to e-cigarettes can be harmful to health, for example by containing carcinogenic carcinogens, precisely when they are vaporised. Flavourings such as cinnamon and vanilla are known to become harmful when vaporised.