Electronic cigarettes have seen a rapid rise in usage since their introduction.
A vigorous debate is currently underway in healthcare and regulatory circles with regards to how they should be received.
Worldwide regulatory bodies have taken a wide range of stances and there is conflicting advice from several authorities.
This paper aims to focus on the oral health aspects of the debate and attempts to answer some of the key questions that face dentists.
What is an electronic cigarette?
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are electronic devices that produce an aerosol (often incorrectly referred to as a ‘vapour’) that is inhaled by the user.
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The e-cigarette contains a solution that comprises three main components: diluents, flavourings and nicotine.
The solution is drawn through an atomiser, which heats the liquid to 200°C to produce the aerosol that is inhaled by the user.
The process of drawing on the device and the production of the aerosol closely resemble cigarette smoking, making e-cigarettes particularly attractive alternatives to smokers.
Souce : oralhealthgroup.com
Author : Richard Holliday