WTH is vape tongue? An explanation for dentists and dental hygienists

Nov. 16, 2023

“Vape tongue” happens when a user temporarily loses their sense of taste. Join us in this episode of Medical History Mysteries as we look at why this occurs and why vape liquid isn’t always what it seems.

Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD

Tom Viola, RPh, CCP

Vaping’s only been around for 20 years, so most of its long-term effects are still a mystery to us. One particularly unpleasant side effect of vaping is “vape tongue,” which happens when a user temporarily loses their sense of taste.

In this episode of Medical History Mysteries, we’ll look at why this phenomenon occurs, why vape liquid isn’t always what it seems, and why oral health providers are on the front lines of the vaping experiment.

Thumbnail background image credit danchooalex / iStock / Getty Images Plus

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Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Through the Loupes newsletter, a publication of the Endeavor Business Media Dental Group. Read more articles and subscribe to Through the Loupes.

About the Author

Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD

Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD, is the chief editor of DentistryIQ and editorial co-director of Through the Loupes. Based in Salem, Massachusetts, Dr. Maragliano-Muniz began her clinical career as a dental hygienist. She went on to attend Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she earned her doctorate in dental medicine. She then attended the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dental Medicine, where she became board-certified in prosthodontics. Dr. Maragliano-Muniz owns a private practice, Salem Dental Arts, and lectures on a variety of clinical topics. You may contact her at [email protected].

About the Author

Tom Viola, RPh, CCP

With more than 30 years’ experience as a board-certified pharmacist, clinical educator, professional speaker, and published author, Tom Viola, RPh, CCP, has earned the reputation as the go-to specialist for making pharmacology practical and useful for dental teams. He is the founder of Pharmacology Declassified and is a member of the faculty of more than 10 dental professional degree programs. Viola has contributed to several professional journals and pharmacology textbooks, and currently serves as a consultant to the American Dental Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs.

Updated February 10, 2022