Vape Tongue: The main symptom as new side

A dentist has warned about one potential consequence of vaping

As increasing numbers are using vapes - with a growing number of children trying flavoured e-cigarettes - a doctor has shared one unpleasant side-effect caused by the practice. Cosmetic dentist, Dr Stewart Beggs, took to social media to warn people of 'vape tongue' which he said developed in some patients who used flavoured vapes.

The UK has seen a 50% rise in the last year in the proportion of children aged 11-17 trying vapes, even though it is illegal to sell them to under 18s. Disposable vapes, which come in flavours like pink lemonade, strawberry and mango, have flooded the market and proved increasingly popular among youngsters in the past year.

These kinds of vapes sometimes contain added sugar and sugar alcohol which are said to be linked to gum disease and tooth decay. And Dr Beggs has now taken to Tiktok to warn of another harmful side-effect, which he said was on the rise in people who uses these types of vapes. You can get more story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.

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What are the symptoms of vape tongue?

Dr Beggs explained in his video that vape tongue was when someone who had vaped too much started to lose their taste. The dentist explained the symptom was on the rise because of how popular the vapes had become with many "ridiculous flavours."

"People end up absolutely caning these vapes and it causes such a massive increase in nicotine and a really, really dry mouth that you lose your sense of taste completely sometimes," he explained.

What should I do if I have vape tongue?

The dentist explained there were ways to get your taste back if you had vape tongue, including cutting down on your vape use and cleaning your teeth and tongue properly. "Don't worry, it does come back when you start to cut down the vaping, but it's really, really, really not good for your health."

The dentist advised vapers: "First thing, stop vaping, or really cut down your vaping because that's really gonna help. Second thing, it can be linked to dehydration, so start to drink more water. Make sure you're fully hydrated. Clean your tongue, brush your teeth, floss, use a tongue scraper, see if that helps as well. If this helps, cut down how much you're vaping because you don't want to get vaper's tongue back because you want to taste your food!"

What is the NHS advice on e-cigarettes?

NHS advice to smokers is that e-cigarettes are far less harmful than cigarettes and can help you quit smoking for good. But they are not recommended for non-smokers. They allow you to inhale nicotine in vapour form rather than smoke and do not produce tar or carbon monoxide.

What other symptoms of vaping are there?

According to Cancer Research UK, the health effects of e-cigarettes are not fully known as they are a relatively new product. But many studies show vaping to be less harmful than smoking, despite the potentially harmful chemicals found in e-cigarettes. There is no strong evidence that vaping causes cancer but e-cigarettes are not without their risks. Side effects can include:

It is uncertain what their long-term side-effects are. But Cancer Research UK advice states: "E-cigarettes should only be used to help you stop smoking, or to stop you going back to tobacco. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is addictive. If you have never smoked, you shouldn’t use e-cigarettes."