A woman says vaping left her with two ‘black’ front teeth after going through five vapes a week.
Stacey Gardiner, 41, says she’d never been a smoker before she started vaping in December 2017. She began with a rechargeable e-cigarette, but later switched to disposable devices as vape shops started “popping up” nearby.
Over time, Stacey claims her usage became heavy, going through around five vapes a week and, on some days, finishing a typical 600-puff disposable in a single day.
She says she first spotted a dark mark forming near the top of her front right tooth in August 2021. At the time, she says it “didn’t occur” to her what might be behind it, but the staining later spread and now affects the tops of both front teeth.
Following an emergency dental visit last year to have two molars removed, Stacey says she raised concerns about the discolouration on her front teeth. According to her, the dentist told her the problem was likely “down to vaping”.
Six months ago, she says she quit “cold turkey” after deciding vaping had become “just a habit” and something she “didn’t actually enjoy”.
To cover the damage, Stacey later paid £200 ($270) for clip-in veneers, which she says helped her feel more confident about her smile.
Stacey believes the potential impact of vaping on teeth isn’t discussed widely enough. She says she now wants younger people, in particular, to understand the risks based on what she has experienced.
Stacey, a blogger, from Swansea, Wales, said: “It was about four years ago a bit of black started at the top of one tooth. I didn’t occur to me what was causing it.”
She continued: “I always cleaned my teeth twice a day, I don’t eat sweets and at first I wasn’t aware what was causing it. I’m on a waiting list here in Wales but the chances of getting an NHS dentist are slim.
“It’s noticeable for people to mention it, and I have been asked in the past ‘are they crowns on your teeth?’
“I’ve been told the vapes leave residue around the top of your teeth and gumline. That’s what causes the damage. The Instasmile veneers mean I’ve finally got my smile back.”
She says she has explored private treatment options, but worries the costs could be unaffordable.
She said: “I was a dental nurse after I left school and I don’t think crowns would be suitable.
“If they take my two front teeth out and I need a denture, when you factor in what it will need and the price is just ridiculous.”
Stacey says she discovered Instasmile’s clip-in veneers while scrolling social media, and placed an order in January 2026.
To get the fit right, she says she submitted 12 separate impressions.
“I don’t wear them at home but if I’m going out I’ll pop them in,” she said.
“I didn’t like going out and hated conversing with people. With the shape of my mouth when I’m talking it’s really noticeable it’s obviously black.
“In photos I would always pout and never smile, and that was the reason why.”
Stacey argues that when vaping risks are discussed, the emphasis is more often on lung health than oral health.
Stacey said: “I don’t think vapes causing damage to teeth, there is enough awareness about that. They start vaping younger now.
“If it was a 15-year-old they could be in the same position I’m in by the age of 20, and I don’t think there is enough awareness, like how dangerous the sweetness and residue leaves on teeth.”