Vaping and Oral Health in Singapore: What Current Evidence Shows

The Oral Maxillofacial Practice (OMP) supports patients in Singapore who want to understand how lifestyle and health factors may affect the mouth, jaws and oral surgery planning. This article explains what current research suggests about vaping and oral health, where the evidence remains uncertain, and why patients should tell their dental team about vaping before a procedure.

Vaping is prohibited in Singapore. From 1 May 2026, the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act was renamed the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act, consolidating enforcement, rehabilitation and educational frameworks for vaporiser use. Beyond its legal status, vaping is also relevant to oral healthcare because the aerosol passes directly through the mouth and may expose oral tissues to nicotine, fine particles, chemicals and metals.

What happens inside a vaping device?

Vaporisers heat a liquid to produce an aerosol that is inhaled through the mouth. The contents vary between products and may not always be known to the user.

According to Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority, vaporisers have been found to contain substances such as:

• nicotine;
• fine particulate matter;
• carbonyl compounds and volatile organic compounds;
• formaldehyde and benzene; and
• metals such as tin, lead and nickel.

Nicotine is addictive and can affect the cardiovascular and nervous systems. From an oral-health perspective, researchers are studying how nicotine, heat and other aerosol components may influence saliva, oral bacteria, gum tissues, blood flow and healing.

These effects cannot be predicted simply from how a product tastes, smells or is labelled.

Does vaping affect the gums?

Research into vaping and gum health is still developing. Many available studies are observational, use relatively small groups or rely on participants reporting their own vaping habits. This makes it difficult to prove that vaping directly causes a particular condition.

However, recent systematic reviews suggest that people who vape may show less favourable periodontal findings than non-smokers. Periodontal health refers to the gums and supporting tissues around the teeth.

Reported differences have included:

• greater plaque accumulation;
• changes in the depth of spaces around the teeth;
• altered inflammatory markers;
• changes in the oral microbiome, the community of microorganisms living in the mouth; and
• possible increased susceptibility to gum inflammation and periodontal disease.

Some studies have found that conventional cigarette smokers experience worse periodontal findings than people who vape. This does not mean that vaping is harmless. A product can present less risk than another exposure while still carrying meaningful health concerns.

Another difficulty is that nicotine may alter normal inflammatory responses. For example, reduced gum bleeding does not necessarily mean that the gums are healthy. Clinical examination remains important when interpreting symptoms.

How might vaping affect dental implants?

A dental implant is placed in the jawbone to support a replacement tooth or restoration. Its long-term health depends on several factors, including bone support, gum health, oral hygiene, general health and maintenance.

Research has identified vaping as a potential risk factor for the tissues surrounding dental implants. Reviews have reported associations with:

• increased plaque around implants;
• deeper peri-implant pockets;
• greater marginal bone loss;
• changes in inflammatory markers around implants; and
• less favourable peri-implant tissue health than in non-smokers.

The available evidence does not mean that every person who has vaped will experience implant complications. Studies vary in quality, vaping exposure and follow-up duration. Some also have difficulty separating vaping from previous or continuing cigarette use.

Patients considering dental implant surgery in Singapore should nevertheless tell their surgeon and restorative dentist about current and previous nicotine use. This information can form part of an individual assessment of gum condition, bone support, healing factors and long-term maintenance needs.

Can vaping affect healing after oral surgery?

Healing after an extraction, wisdom tooth procedure, implant placement or another oral operation involves blood clot formation, inflammation, tissue repair and the restoration of the protective lining of the mouth.

Limited clinical research and broader surgical reviews have raised concerns that vaping may interfere with blood flow and parts of the wound-healing process. However, the amount of high-quality human evidence remains limited. Researchers do not yet have precise answers for every device, substance, frequency of use or oral procedure.

The practical message is therefore one of precaution: vaping should not be treated as irrelevant before oral surgery in Singapore. Patients should discuss it with their treating clinician, who can advise them based on the proposed procedure and their individual health.

Do not use vaping as a substitute for cigarettes before a procedure without discussing smoking or nicotine cessation with an appropriate healthcare professional.

Why should I tell my oral surgeon that I vape?

Some patients may hesitate to disclose vaping, particularly because it is illegal in Singapore. From a clinical perspective, an accurate health and lifestyle history supports safer assessment and treatment planning.

Your dental or surgical team may ask about:

• current or previous cigarette use;
• current or previous vaping;
• how frequently nicotine has been used;
• relevant medicines and medical conditions;
• gum disease or previous dental implant problems;
• past difficulties with bleeding or healing; and
• other substances that may have been inhaled through a vaporiser.

The purpose of these questions is to understand factors that may affect anaesthesia, healing, oral tissues and follow-up. Being open with the clinical team allows advice to be tailored to the situation.

If you are planning oral surgery, ask your clinician what precautions are appropriate. Recommendations may differ according to the procedure, your medical history and the type and frequency of exposure.

What mouth changes should be assessed?

Vaping-related research is evolving, and symptoms in the mouth can have many possible causes. A change should not automatically be attributed to vaping.

Arrange a dental or medical assessment if you notice:

• a mouth ulcer that does not heal;
• a persistent red or white patch;
• unexplained bleeding;
• gum swelling or recession;
• a lump in the mouth, jaw or neck;
• persistent dry mouth or oral discomfort;
• numbness or an unusual change in sensation;
• increasing pain or swelling after an oral procedure; or
• a dental implant that feels uncomfortable or different.

These findings do not necessarily indicate a serious condition. Assessment can help determine whether the area should be monitored, treated or investigated further.

An oral pathology assessment may be considered for persistent or unexplained changes affecting the mouth, jaws or surrounding tissues.

What does the evidence not tell us yet?

Patients may encounter definite-sounding claims about vaping online. The current oral-health evidence is more nuanced.

Important limitations include:

• a lack of long-term studies;
• differences between devices and liquids;
• uncertainty about the substances contained in illicit products;
• small participant groups in some studies;
• reliance on self-reported vaping history;
• dual use of cigarettes and vaporisers; and
• difficulty separating the effects of nicotine from other aerosol components.

Current research supports concern and clinical caution, but it does not justify predicting exactly what will happen to an individual patient.

Support for stopping vaping in Singapore

Stopping nicotine use can be difficult, particularly when dependence has developed. Patients do not have to manage this alone.

Singapore resources include the Health Promotion Board’s I Quit programme, QuitLine and the national QuitVape programme. These services provide information and support for people who want to stop vaping or smoking.

For individual guidance, speak with an appropriate healthcare professional. Do not start or change medicines or nicotine-replacement products without suitable advice, particularly if you have a medical condition, are pregnant or are preparing for a procedure.

Planning oral surgery at OMP

The Oral Maxillofacial Practice provides assessment and treatment planning for conditions involving the teeth, mouth, jaws and face. Before an oral procedure, the clinical team reviews relevant health, medication and lifestyle factors and explains how these may affect the proposed plan.

If you are preparing for oral surgery or have persistent changes in your mouth, you can arrange an oral and maxillofacial surgery consultation or speak with your dentist about whether specialist assessment may be appropriate.

This article provides general education and does not replace individual clinical advice.

References

• Health Sciences Authority, Singapore. “Vaping enforcement.” Updated 13 July 2026.
• HealthHub Singapore. “Vaping Cessation.”
• Alkattan R, et al. “Effects of Electronic Cigarettes on Periodontal Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” International Dental Journal. 2025.
• Bangiev L, et al. “The Impact of Cigarette Smoking, Waterpipe Smoking, and E-Cigarette Vaping on Peri-Implant Clinical Outcomes and Inflammatory Markers.” Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Research. 2025.
• Guney Z, et al. “The Impact of Electronic Cigarettes on Peri-Implant Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Journal of Dentistry. 2024.
• Ashour O, et al. “The Implications of Vaping on Surgical Wound Healing: A Systematic Review.” Surgery. 2023.