Experts refute claims of e-cigarettes causing dental damage

Feb.17.2023
Experts refute claims of e-cigarettes causing dental damage
Experts refute claims e-cigarettes harm teeth, citing inaccuracies and praising UK’s positive stance on vaping.

Two food science scholars from Cardiff Metropolitan University's School of Sport and Health Sciences have recently made claims that electronic cigarettes can lead to tooth damage. In response, four experts in the field - Dr. Richard Holliday, Professor Helen McNeill, Anthony Wake and Zehra Sayed - published a letter in the British Dental Journal at Newcastle University, explaining the inaccuracies of these claims.


The truth about electronic cigarettes has been revealed by four experts from the Dental Sciences School of Newcastle University, which is good news for everyone. Nancy Lucas, Executive Coordinator of the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA), made this statement at a recent press conference.


Four experts have written that they are "disappointed by several basic errors and misrepresentations" and have corrected five major errors in the potential harm of e-cigarettes. Lucas added that given the UK's positive attitude towards e-cigarettes, such inaccurate statements are surprising.


The UK has taken a relatively progressive and risk-balanced approach towards electronic cigarettes, with the country's public health sector firmly believing that vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking. While it may be surprising that these two food science lecturers were able to express their views, luckily, they have since been proven inaccurate, according to Lucas.


Four experts have explained that the two authors used a World Health Organization poster and incorrectly claimed that nicotine can cause a "high risk of oral and systemic health complications." They added that in fact, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) has been safely used in the form of patches and gum for 30 years.


Electronic cigarettes can be part of a smoking cessation package.


Furthermore, they added that "it is recommended that dental professionals in the UK refer to carefully considered public health guidelines, which suggest that for the best chance of quitting smoking, both support and medication therapy should be utilized, with e-cigarettes being part of this approach.


CAPHRA emphasized that Dr. Richard Holliday, a specialist in restorative dentistry and periodontics, wrote an article in The Times stating that "smokers considering switching to e-cigarettes should remember that this is a good choice for their overall bodily and oral health".


The biggest mistake made by food science lecturers is the same mistake many people make - promoting the World Health Organization's anti-e-cigarette stance as an official public health stance. It's worth noting that all UK public institutions, including the National Health Service, ignore the WHO's advice. They support e-cigarettes because they know e-cigarettes neither erode teeth nor cause gum disease.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Malaysian Court Rules Liquid Nicotine Exemption Irrational, Renewing Vape Regulation Debate
Malaysian Court Rules Liquid Nicotine Exemption Irrational, Renewing Vape Regulation Debate
Malaysia’s High Court ruled that the government’s earlier decision to remove liquid nicotine from the country’s Poisons List was “irrational,” reigniting debate over vape regulation, illicit trade, and youth protection.
Regulations
May.18
FDA Launches Elsa 4.0 and Completes HALO Data Platform Consolidation
FDA Launches Elsa 4.0 and Completes HALO Data Platform Consolidation
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on May 6 that it has advanced its modernization initiative by launching Elsa 4.0, an upgraded internal AI tool, and consolidating more than 40 application and submission data sources, systems and portals into a new platform called HALO. FDA said the integration of HALO and Elsa will allow staff to query data and build workflows without manually uploading documents in each chat.
May.07 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Multi-State Coalition Urges F1 to End Nicotine Sponsorships, Citing Zyn and Velo
Multi-State Coalition Urges F1 to End Nicotine Sponsorships, Citing Zyn and Velo
Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez is co-leading a coalition of 19 states and jurisdictions urging the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Formula 1 to end sponsorships involving tobacco and nicotine products, including nicotine pouch brands such as Zyn and Velo.
News
Jun.09
Tasmanian Lower House Passes Tougher Tobacco Bill With Higher Penalties for Sales to Minors
Tasmanian Lower House Passes Tougher Tobacco Bill With Higher Penalties for Sales to Minors
The Tasmanian House of Assembly has passed a new bill aimed at cracking down on the sale of smoking products to children and curbing the illicit tobacco trade. Under the Public Health Amendment (Prohibited Tobacco and Other Products) Bill 2026, businesses caught selling tobacco products to minors would face steeper, tiered fines.
Apr.23 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Nicotine Beyond Tobacco? Cell Study Signals Emerging Shift in Production Systems
Nicotine Beyond Tobacco? Cell Study Signals Emerging Shift in Production Systems
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences reconstructed nicotine biosynthesis in non-tobacco plants and yeast systems, highlighting how advances in synthetic biology could gradually reshape future nicotine production technologies and challenge regulatory frameworks built around tobacco-derived definitions.
Special Report
May.07
 BAT Bangladesh Cigarette Sales Fall 14%, Q1 Profit Drops 34%
BAT Bangladesh Cigarette Sales Fall 14%, Q1 Profit Drops 34%
British American Tobacco Bangladesh reported a 14% year-on-year decline in cigarette sales volume and a 34% drop in first-quarter profit, highlighting mounting pressure from inflation, taxation, and weakening consumer spending in Bangladesh.
News
May.18