does vaping stain your teeth?
(Picture: Getty)

So you’re one of the many, many people who’s moved from smoking cigs to vaping.

Maybe you made the switch for the health benefits, maybe it’s because you like treating yourself to a new vape-y flavour, or maybe you bowed to peer pressure after someone asked ‘do you even vape, bro?’ a few too many times.

Whatever the reason, you’ve likely weighed up all the pros and cons to settle on which nicotine based option is right* for you.

*This is where we say that ideally you’d give up all nicotine and e-cigarettes entirely. Just an idea.

Among those pros and cons there’s probably been one area that’s popped up: Your appearance.

Vaping means you don’t stink of smoke, your breath doesn’t reek, and your nails don’t get that charming yellow tinge, so in many ways it’s the more aesthetically pleasing option.


And some other good news: Vaping won’t stain your teeth as badly as smoking cigarettes will, so you can have a sparkling white smile while keeping up that vape life.

Man vaping
(Picture: Getty)

Dentist Dr Richard Marques tells ‘Vaping does not stain your teeth generally unless you are using a vape with tar or colourings in.


‘It is the tar and ash from cigarettes that stain the teeth. Vapes do not contain this.’

Sweet. So as long as you avoid any vaping any brightly coloured or tar-packed substances for the lols, your teeth shouldn’t be stained by your e-cig.

That doesn’t mean they’ll be perfectly white, though.

Dentist Dr Harold Katz warns that while the major staining ingredient of tar is gone, the nicotine contained in e-cigarettes can still give the teeth a yellow tinge.

‘Although nicotine is actually colourless, it becomes yellowish in hue when it combines with oxygen molecules,’ Dr Katz tells

He’s also quick to note that even if your teeth do stay stain-free, vaping will likely have a negative effect on your dental health and hygiene.

‘Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor and limits blood flow in our oral tissues leading to tooth decay, receding gums and an increased risk of developing gum disease, dry mouth and bad breath,’ says Dr Katz. ‘It can also mask the symptoms of gum disease as a reduced blood flow can often hide the presence of bleeding gums, one of the key early visible indicators that a patient has the condition.’


Eek. So maybe giving up all smoking-related things would be a wise idea after all.

Of course, if staining’s your only concern, it’s worth noting that there are plenty of other things that can cause stains on teeth, including tea and coffee, so you can’t just switch to vaping and think your teeth will sparkle.

It’s a wise idea to avoid staining liquids like wine, tea, and coffee, as well as anything containing artificial colourings.

Clean your teeth twice a day, floss (that’ll help avoid staining between the teeth), and visit a dentist every six months for regular checkups and cleaning. Easy.

MORE: How do hormones affect our mental health?

MORE: What I Rent: Paul and Mike, £1,350 for a flat in Tooting

MORE: You won’t be able to get goth grub in NYC anymore