Dangers of flavored tobacco products

Cigarettes came in flavors like berry, vanilla, margarita and many others until 2009, when federal lawmakers banned them — with the exception of menthol — due to overwhelming evidence that flavored cigarettes entice youth to start smoking. Despite the fact a standard cigarette stains more than a cigarette, introduction of the vape into the oral cavity has been found to relay detrimental effects to muscles such as the tongue and contribute to dry mouth.

Many youth e-cigarette users incorrectly believe they aren’t consuming nicotine when they vape. The majority of youth e-cigarette users think they vaped only flavoring, not nicotine, the last time they used a product, according to an annual national survey of more than 40,000 students from the University of Michigan 2016 Monitoring the Future study. Ninety-nine percent of e-cigarettes sold in U.S. convenience stores, supermarkets and similar outlets in 2015 contained nicotine, according to a CDC report.

The groups are also calling on the FDA to take immediate action to address the rising popularity of e-cigarettes among youth. Demands include removing any e-cigarette flavors, such as the highly popular mango and cool cucumber flavors, which violate FDA rules. The limited consumption of these e-cigarette problems can decrease the prevalence of complications in the oral cavity.