Does Vaping Cause Gum Disease?

Vaping hasn't been proven to cause gum disease, but the evidence is moving in that direction. A study from NYU College of Dentistry found that people who vape carry a mix of gum bacteria and inflammation signals that looks more like a smoker's mouth than a nonsmoker's, and gum health worsened in some vapers over six months. Vaping is not a safe alternative for your gums, and if you vape, your dentist should know.

What did the NYU study do?

Researchers followed 84 adults in three groups: cigarette smokers, e-cigarette users and people who had never smoked. Each person had two gum exams six months apart. At each visit, the team measured gum health, collected plaque from below the gumline to identify the bacteria living there, and measured immune proteins (cytokines) that drive inflammation. [1]

What did it find?

• Everyone started with some gum disease. Smokers had the most severe disease, then vapers, then nonsmokers.

• Vapers had their own bacterial mix. Their gum bacteria shared many features with smokers' and some with nonsmokers', but formed a distinct community, including higher levels of some bacteria associated with gum disease. [1]

• Inflammation looked different. Vapers had different cytokine levels from the other groups, which the researchers interpreted as an altered immune response in the gums. [1]

• Gum health worsened in some participants in every group over six months, including several vapers. According to NYU's press release, a companion paper found that loss of gum attachment to the teeth worsened significantly only in the vapers. [2]

What are the limits?

• It was small. 84 people is enough to spot patterns, not to settle the question.

• Six months is short. Gum disease develops over years.

• It is observational. People who vape may differ from nonsmokers in other ways, and some vapers are former smokers.

• Vaping products vary widely in nicotine and other ingredients.

Why might vaping affect your gums?

Nicotine narrows blood vessels and can affect how gums respond to infection and heal. E-cigarette aerosol also contains chemicals and flavorings that change the environment of the mouth. The NYU work suggests these changes favor bacteria linked to gum disease. Researchers are still working out the details.

What should you do if you vape?

• Tell your dentist. It changes what we look for.

• Watch for bleeding gums, recession, bad breath or loose teeth.

• Keep up brushing, cleaning between your teeth and regular dental visits.

• Consider quitting. For help, talk with your physician or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW, the free national quitline.

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research lists e-cigarettes among the tobacco products that raise oral cancer risk, so an oral cancer exam matters too. [3]

Where can you get your gums checked in Jacksonville?

A comprehensive dental exam at our office includes a full gum evaluation. For other ways gum health connects to the rest of the body, see can gum disease affect your overall health? To schedule, contact us or call 904-398-1549.

Sources

1. Thomas SC, Xu F, Pushalkar S, et al. Electronic cigarette use promotes a unique periodontal microbiome. mBio. 2022;13(1):e0007522. doi:10.1128/mbio.00075-22 (retrieved via PubMed)

2. American Society for Microbiology. Evidence grows for vaping's role in gum disease. Press release, February 2022 (originally issued by NYU College of Dentistry).

3. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Oral cancer. Retrieved October 6, 2026.

About the author. CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in Jacksonville whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental implants and dental care around head and neck cancer. Meet Dr. Henley.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA · 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · 904-398-1549
Updated October 2026.

Gum Disease in Pets and People: What They Share

Gum disease is common in adult dogs, cats and people, and it works much the same way in each: plaque bacteria below the gumline cause inflammation that destroys the tissue and bone holding the teeth. In both dogs and people, more severe gum disease has been linked with heart problems, including endocarditis, although that link has not been shown to be cause and effect. Brushing at home and professional care below the gumline matter for every member of the family.

How does gum disease develop?

Plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, builds up on the teeth every day. Left alone, it hardens into tartar. The visible tartar above the gumline is not the main problem. The damage happens below the gumline, where bacteria and the body's inflammatory response break down the gum attachment and bone. This is true in dogs, cats and people.

Because inflamed gums bleed easily, bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream briefly. That is one reason researchers in both human and veterinary medicine have studied whether gum disease affects the heart.

What is endocarditis, and is it linked to gum disease?

Endocarditis is inflammation of the inner lining of the heart's chambers and valves, called the endocardium. [1] Infective endocarditis happens when bacteria settle there, often on a damaged or artificial valve.

• In people, mouth bacteria are a known cause of some cases of infective endocarditis. The American Heart Association recommends preventive antibiotics before certain dental procedures only for people at the highest risk, such as those with artificial heart valves or a past episode of endocarditis, and it stresses that good daily oral health and regular dental care matter for everyone. [2]

• In dogs, a study of nearly 60,000 dogs with gum disease and a matched group without it found that more severe gum disease was linked with a higher risk of later heart conditions, including endocarditis. The authors noted the study was observational. [3]

Why do pets need anesthesia for a dental cleaning?

A thorough cleaning has to reach below the gumline, and dogs and cats won't hold still for that. Veterinary dental guidelines therefore include recommendations for general anesthesia during professional cleanings. [4] People can usually have the same work done awake, with local anesthetic when needed.

What signs of mouth trouble should you watch for?

In pets:

• Bad breath

• Red gums or heavy tartar

• Chewing on one side, dropping food or reluctance to eat

• Pawing at the mouth or swelling of the face

In people:

• Gums that bleed when you brush

• Red, swollen or receding gums

• Persistent bad breath

• Loose teeth or a change in your bite

For your pet, ask your veterinarian. For yourself, see a dentist.

Where can you get your own gums checked in Jacksonville?

Our office cares for people, not pets. A comprehensive dental exam includes a full gum evaluation. For more on how gum health connects to the rest of the body, see can gum disease affect your overall health? To schedule, contact us or call 904-398-1549.

Sources

1. MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine). Endocarditis. Retrieved October 6, 2026.

2. Wilson WR, Gewitz M, Lockhart PB, et al. Prevention of viridans group streptococcal infective endocarditis: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2021;143(20):e963-e978. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000969 (retrieved via PubMed)

3. Glickman LT, Glickman NW, Moore GE, Goldstein GS, Lewis HB. Evaluation of the risk of endocarditis and other cardiovascular events on the basis of the severity of periodontal disease in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2009;234(4):486-494. doi:10.2460/javma.234.4.486 (retrieved via PubMed)

4. Bellows J, Berg ML, Dennis S, et al. 2019 AAHA dental care guidelines for dogs and cats. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2019;55(2):49-69. doi:10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6933 (retrieved via PubMed)

About the author. CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in Jacksonville whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental implants and dental care around head and neck cancer. Meet Dr. Henley.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA · 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · 904-398-1549
Updated October 2026.