Tobacco Use and Vaping
Tobacco use is causally associated with higher rates of tooth decay, receding gums, periodontal disease, mucosial lesions, bone damage, tooth loss, jaw bone loss and more. That is why the ADA is working with dentists, educators, public health officials, lawmakers and the public to prevent and, hopefully, eliminate the use of all tobacco products.
While the oral health effects of vaping are not fully studied, there is some evidence that vaping increases the likelihood that tobacco users will not be able to quit. There have also been anecdotal reports of orofacial damage when these devices have suddenly overheated, sometimes to the point of exploding.
Aside from the intended use of approved nicotine cessation products, the ADA discourages the use of all nicotine products made or derived from tobacco.
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Policies and Positions
View the ADA's official policies on the oral health risks associated with products made or derived from tobacco.
Current Policies
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For Dentists
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For Patients
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In Congress
- July 10, 2020—Coalition letter (PDF) expressing support for H.R. 7286, the Quit Because of COVID-19 Act, which would enhance Medicaid coverage for tobacco cessation services until two years after the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration ends.
- February 27, 2020—Letter (PDF) thanking House leaders for scheduling a floor vote on H.R. 2339, the Protecting American Lungs and Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2020.
- February 4, 2020—Coalition letter (PDF) urging members of the House to vote Yea on H.R. 2339, the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019.
- November 18, 2019—Letter (PDF) urging members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to favorably report H.R. 2339, the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019.
- October 15, 2019—Letter (PDF) urging members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health to favorably report H.R. 2339, the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019.
- September 9, 2019—Coalition letter (PDF) urging members of Senate to support S. 655, the Stopping Appealing Flavors in E-Cigarettes for Kids Act, or SAFE Kids Act.
- September 9, 2019—Coalition letter (PDF) urging members of House to support H.R. 1498, the Stopping Appealing Flavors in E-Cigarettes for Kids Act, or SAFE Kids Act.
- May 16, 2019—Coalition Letter (PDF) expressing support for H.R. 2339, the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019.
- May 23, 2019—Letter (PDF) expressing support for S. 1541, the Tobacco-Free Youth Act.
- June 7, 2019—Coalition Letter (PDF) expressing support for S. 1541, the Tobacco-Free Youth Act.
- September 11, 2018—Coalition letter (PDF) urging congressional appropriators to reject policy riders that would weaken the Food and Drug Administration's authority to regulate tobacco products.
- May 4, 2018—Coalition letter (PDF) urging Senate appropriators to reject policy riders that would weaken the Food and Drug Administration's authority to regulate tobacco products.
- May 4, 2018—Coalition letter (PDF) urging House appropriators to reject policy riders that would weaken the Food and Drug Administration's authority to regulate tobacco products.
- March 27, 2017—Coalition letter (PDF) urging members of the House to oppose H.R. 1136, the FDA Deeming Authority Clarification Act of 2017.
- September 7, 2016—Coalition letter (PDF) opposing any Senate FY 2017 appropriations bill riders that would weaken the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco products.
- September 7, 2016—Coalition letter (PDF) opposing any House FY 2017 appropriations bill riders that would weaken the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco products.
- September 10, 2015—Coalition letter (PDF) opposing any Senate FY 2016 appropriations bill riders that would weaken the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco products.
- September 10, 2015—Coalition letter (PDF) opposing any House FY 2016 appropriations bill riders that would weaken the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco products.
- July 7, 2015—Coalition letter (PDF) opposing a provision in the House FY 2016 appropriations bill that would weaken the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) authority to regulate non-tobacco nicotine products.
- May 26, 2015—Coalition letter (PDF) urging members of the House to oppose H.R. 2058, the FDA Deeming Authority Clarification Act of 2015.
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Federal Agencies
- November 9, 2020—Coalition letter (PDF) urging the FDA to proceed with its rule characterizing menthol as an added flavor in tobacco products
- October 15, 2019—Coalition comments (PDF) on a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed rule governing the health warnings and color images required on cigarette packages and advertisements.
- September 24, 2019—Coalition letter (PDF) supporting the White House proposal to remove flavored e-cigarettes from the market.
- July 25, 2018—Coalition letter (PDF) urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reconsider its decision to not regulate premium cigars under the Tobacco Control Act.
- May 17, 2017—Coalition letter (PDF) urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reconsider delaying enforcement of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) tobacco product deeming rule.
- February 26, 2016—Coalition letter (PDF) urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be more diligent about requiring tobacco companies to obtain approval before introducing new tobacco products to market (i.e., premarket review).
- April 28, 2015—Coalition letter (PDF) urging the President to finalize the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) tobacco product “deeming rule.”
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ADA News
Related stories from the dental profession's most widely read news source, ADA News.
- Coalition supports helping Medicaid, CHIP enrollees quit tobacco during pandemic (ADA News 7/15/20)
- ADA joins coalition calling for vaping regulation (ADA News 2/6/20)
- 2019 marked big year for Washington office (ADA News 1/23/20)
- Congress passes $1.4 trillion spending package (ADA News 12/19/19)
- ADA announces interim policy on vaping (ADA News 12/16/19)
- December JADA finds dentists underscreen for cancer among high-risk groups (ADA News 11/21/19)
- ADA supports regulating vaping devices and liquids (ADA News 11/19/19)
- ADA supports legislation regulating vaping devices (ADA News 10/16/19)
- ADA expands policy on oral cancer detection to include oropharyngeal cancer (ADA News 10/1/19)
- ADA House of Delegates addresses vaping epidemic with resolution (ADA News 9/25/19)
- Coalition supports plan to remove non-tobacco flavored e-cigarettes (ADA News 9/24/19)
- Coalition asks Congress to ban flavored tobacco products (ADA News 9/12/19)
- E-cigarette webinar this Friday (ADA News 6/11/19)
- Organized dentistry supports raising tobacco purchasing age to 21 (ADA News 6/10/19)
- ADA supports legislation calling for raising legal age to 21 to purchase tobacco (ADA News 5/23/19)
- ADA webinars in May focus on e-cigarette use, expectant mothers' oral care (ADA News 5/7/19)
- May JADA examines impact of all tobacco products on oral health (ADA News 4/24/19)
- Celebrate Kick Butts Day on March 20 (ADA News 3/12/19)
- Tobacco-related research abstract submissions accepted (ADA News 12/7/18)
- FDA vows to strengthen compliance for electronic nicotine products, calls for banning menthol in cigarettes, cigars (ADA News 11/15/18)
- Study: Some e-cigarette liquids may increase caries risk (ADA News 10/1/18)
- FDA initiatives target ‘widespread’ teen e-cigarette use (ADA News 9/21/18)
- ADA, others ask Congress to reject tobacco policy riders (ADA News 9/13/18)
- Cohort completes program on tobacco cessation at WVU School of Dentistry (ADA News 8/3/18)
- ADA asks FDA to maintain rule regulating premium cigars (ADA News 7/30/18)
- Summit focuses on oral health effects of smokeless tobacco (ADA News 7/20/18)
- Oral health effects of tobacco focus of webinar (ADA News 7/16/18)
- Tobacco cessation goal of CDC Tips campaign, webinar (ADA News 7/9/18)
- Policies aim to limit youth use of tobacco and nicotine products (ADA News 6/13/18)
- Science on oral health effects of tobacco products at Bethesda, Maryland conference(ADA News 4/16/18)
- Oral cancers highlighted for April awareness (ADA News 3/19/18)
- Report: E-cigarette use among teens may raise risk of smoking (ADA News 1/29/18)
- Dentists can play key role in helping patients quit smoking (ADA News 11/14/17)
- Helping patients quit tobacco (ADA News 10/24/17)
- FDA finalizes guidance on the prohibition of distributing free samples of tobacco products (ADA News 10/12/17)
- FDA announces new tobacco plan, postpones deeming rule(ADA News 7/28/17)
- ADA, others urge HHS to ensure deeming rule is implemented (ADA News 5/22/17)
- ADA supports bill to make Veterans’ facilities smoke-free (ADA News 5/12/17)
- FDA delays enforcement of 'deeming rule' (ADA News 5/4/17)
- 2017 spending bill includes increases for dental research, education (ADA News 5/2/17)
- ADA, others ask Congress to reject tobacco policy riders, keep CDC funding (ADA News 4/11/17)
- ADA, others urge Congress to oppose tobacco bill (ADA News 3/31/17)
- FDA issues warning letters to tobacco manufacturers (ADA News 12/9/16)
- ADA joins FDA stakeholder meeting (ADA News 12/7/16)
- FDA issues final rule on all tobacco products (ADA News 5/5/16)
- NIDCR awards $2 million in e-cigarette research grants (ADA News 3/15/16)
- ADA 'concerned' tobacco companies introducing products without proper review (ADA News 3/4/16)
- ADA comments on 'modified risk' tobacco products (ADA News 12/5/14)
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Journal of the American Dental Association
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Media Inquiries
Journalists may contact the media relations department at:
Media Relations
312.440.2806
mediarelations@ada.org
News Releases
Prepared by: Division of Government and Public Affairs
Last Updated: July 22, 2020