Policy Statement 2.2.11 - Community Oral Health Promotion: Vaping

Position Summary

Vaping may cause serious harm or injury and so should not be used. There should be further research to examine the health impact of the use of and exposure to vaping.

1. Background

1.1. Unless prescribed by a Medical Practitioner, it is illegal to use, sell or buy nicotine for use in vaping (also known as e-cigarettes) in Australia. Despite this, nicotine has been found in vape liquids claiming to be nicotine-free.(1)

1.2. Harmful substances have been found in E-cigarette liquids and the vapours produced could increase the risk of lung disease, heart disease and cancer.(2)

1.3. The use of vapes is expected to have adverse effects on the health of the oral cavity(3)  including higher risk of transformation of premalignant lesions and development of cancers comparable to those of non-smokers(4), and a higher risk of fungal infections than non-smokers (5). However, there is increasing research that demonstrates vape use increases the risk of periodontal disease.(6)

1.4. Vape use can cause serious injury and burns through fires and explosion of the device.(7) 

1.5. Vape use has a potential gateway effect that leads to cigarette smoking and normalising nicotine use, particularly among young people. (8)

1.6. The evidence for use of vapes to support smoking cessation is insufficient.

1.7. The safety of vaping is hard to assess due to the variety of devices and liquids available, incomplete or inaccurate labelling, user ability to modify the device or liquids, and because many diseases take a long time to develop.(9)

1.8. Research on the health impact of long-term use of and exposure to vaping is lacking.(10)

Definitions

1.9. DENTAL PRACTITIONER is a person registered by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency via the Board to provide dental care.

1.10. VAPES (also known as e-cigarettes) are battery-operated devices resembling cigarettes or pens that heat up a liquid which is then vaporised and inhaled by users.

1.11. MEDICAL PRACTITIONER is a person registered by the Medical Board of Australia to be able to use the title Medical Practitioner and be recognised to receive Medicare and other benefits.

2. Position

2.1. No one should use vapes.

2.2. The packaging or flavours of vaping liquids should not be made to appeal to children or teenagers.

2.3. Public awareness programs on the health issues related to vaping use should be encouraged and maintained.

2.4. Smokers wishing to quit should be encouraged to discuss smoking cessation methods with a Dental or Medical Practitioner.

2.5. Governments should ensure appropriate funding and access to nicotine replacement therapies and quit nicotine programs.

2.6. There should be further research to examine the impact of the use of and exposure to vaping.

 

References

1 Australian Government. Smoking and tobacco laws in Australia [Internet]. Canberra (ACT): Department of Health; 2021
[updated 2021 11 August; cited 2023]. Available from: smoking and tobacco
2Australian Government. About E-cigarettes [Internet]. Canberra (ACT): Department of Health; 2023 [updated 2023 April
13]. Available from: e-cigarettes
3 Ebersole J., Samburova V., Son Y, et al. Harmful chemicals emitted from electronic cigarettes and potential deleterious
effects in the oral cavity. Tob Induc Dis [Internet]. 2020 May 8 [cited 2020 July 19];18:4. Available from:
http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Harmful-chemicals-emitted-from-electronic-cigarettes-and-npotentialdeleterious-effects,116988,0,2.html.DOI:10.18332/tid/116988
4 Ramoa CP, Eissenberg T, Sahingur SE. Increasing popularity of waterpipe tobacco smoking and electronic cigarette use: Implications for oral healthcare. J Periodontal Res. 2017 Oct;52(5):813-823. DOI:10.1111/jre.12458 5 Bardellini E, Amadori F, Conti G, et al. Oral mucosal lesions in electronic cigarettes consumers versus former smokers. Acta Odontol Scand. 2018 Apr;76(3):226-228. DOI:10.1080/00016357.2017.1406613
6 Ebersole J., Samburova V., Son Y., Cappelli D., Demopoulos C., Capurro A. et al. Harmful chemicals emitted from electronic cigarettes and potential deleterious effects in the oral cavity. Tob Induc Dis [Internet]. 2020 May 8 [cited 2020 July 19];18:5. Available from: http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Harmful-chemicals-emitted-from-electroniccigarettes-and-npotential-deleterious-effects,116988,0,2.html. DOI:10.18332/tid/116988
7 World Health Organization [Internet]. 2020 January 29 [cited 2020 July 19]. Available from: https://www.who.int/newsroom/q-a-detail/e-cigarettes-how-risky-are-they
8 Greenhalgh, EM, Scollo, MM and Winstanley, MH. Tobacco in Australia: Facts and issues [Internet]. Melbourne (VIC): Cancer Council Victoria; 2020 [updated 2020; cited 2020 July 19]. Available from:
https://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-18-harm-reduction/indepth-18b-e-cigarettes/18b-6-potential-negativeimpacts
9 Australian Government. About E-cigarettes [Internet]. Canberra (ACT): Department of Health; 2020 [updated 2020 March 17; cited 2020 July 19]. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/smoking-and-tobacco/aboutsmoking-and-tobacco/smoking-and-tobacco-laws-in-australia#ecigarette-laws
10 World Health Organization [Internet]. 2020 January 29 [cited 2020 July 19]. Available from: https://www.who.int/newsroom/q-a-detail/e-cigarettes-how-risky-are-they