E-Cigarettes and vape shops | Lorne Park Dental

Since their release in 2007, the use of e-cigarettes has spread like wildfire with ‘Vape Shops’ popping up across the country. Today, 2.5 million Canadians have either tried them or use the devices regularly. Have you wondered what e-cigarettes are all about? Our Lorne Park Dental team cares about your oral health and wants you to be informed.

What are E-Cigarettes?

E-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes) are battery-powered devices that simulate the smoking of conventional cigarettes.

Each device is generally made up of 3 sections:
1. A Battery: The power source
2. A Cartridge: Contains water, flavouring, and sometimes, nicotine
3. A Vaporizer: Heats up the contents of the cartridge to create an inhalable vapour

parts of an E-Cigarette

Are E-Cigarettes Legal?

At the moment, only the sale of nicotine-free e-cigarettes are legal in Canada.
In Ontario, e-cigarettes and vaping supplies can only be sold to individuals 19 years and older.
Although in talks, Ontario has not yet adopted harsher regulations for smoking e-cigarettes. This means vaping is still legal in some places where regular smoking is not. e.g. enclosed spaces (unless specified by the individual institution).
The Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA) was enacted on May 23, 2018 to regulate the manufacture, sale, labelling and promotion of tobacco products and vaping products sold in Canada.

Are E-Cigarettes Less Harmful than Conventional Cigarettes?

tobacco types-oral cancer-Lorne Park Dental-MississaugaDentist

Although they are perceived as being a less harmful alternative to tobacco, the following ingredients have been found in some e-cigarettes:

image of man vaping - Mississauga Dentist

Formaldehyde
Carcinogenic compounds
Carbonyl compounds
Volatile organic compounds
Vapour containing heavy metals

Furthermore, as E-Cigarettes are still relatively new, the long-term effects from exposure to second-hand vapour remains unknown. Possible short-term effects, on the other hand, have included acute eye and respiratory irritation.

E-Cigarettes As An Aid to Quit Smoking?

Although some e-cigarettes have been marketed as a cessation aid to help quit smoking, these claims have not been supported by strong evidence. As such, Health Canada does not yet recognize them as a tool to quit. If you are looking to quit smoking, we suggest you check out our previous post here for some helpful tips & resources:

Want to Stop Smoking?

The Low Down on E-Cigarettes

What are E-Cigarettes?

Are E-Cigarettes Legal?

E-Cigarettes As An Aid to Quit Smoking?

We hope this post has helped to inform you a bit more on the subject of e-cigarettes!