TikToker shares shocking realization about her teeth following years of vaping

Chaunie Brusie • In The Know

Like many people, Mary-Kate Willis (@mk9unit) doesn’t enjoy going to the dentist. In a TikTok, she explained why she opted out of regular dental care for four years. 

Willis said she stopped going to the dentist after developing an eating disorder, an “air stick dependency” (aka vaping) and a Diet Coke addiction, along with being a regular marijuana user. 

Despite her lapse in dental care, Willis noted that she has always had “perfect teeth” — to the point that dentists are usually “baffled” and “shocked” that she never had braces. 

Her history of good dental health led her to believe that when she finally did visit a dentist, it would be a fairly straightforward visit to remove her wisdom teeth and take care of a cavity she knew she had.

Instead, Willis learned some shocking information about her oral health.

What vaping did to her teeth

As Willis explained in her video, she began vaping regularly around the age of 14 or 15, as she says many people in her town did. Now, roughly seven years later, the effects on her teeth, mouth and gums have been significant. 

Her dental team told her that she now has:

• Five cavities
• Pre-oral cancer
• Gum disease
• Chipped teeth

“I was told I have to quit nicotine within the year or else my teeth are gonna start falling out,” she said. 

“Not the news I was hoping for but maybe the news that I needed,” Willis added. 

The dangers of vaping

Vaping has been on the rise for young people — with as many as 1 in 4 high schoolers vaping regularly — but as Willis’ story demonstrates, the long-term consequences are still emerging. 

The American Heart Association explains that the nicotine in cigarettes or e-cigarettes restricts blood flow to the gums, which can lead to gum disease, trauma and infection. 

The fluid in e-cigarettes, such as propylene glycol, benzene, formaldehyde and other chemicals, can cause similar damage. 

And even without nicotine, vaping and e-cigarette use changes the microbiome — the bacterial makeup of the mouth — to get rid of “good” bacteria while allowing “bad” bacteria to thrive. 

A 2021 study in the Journal of Dental Research said that while researchers need more studies on the dangers of vaping, all evidence so far points to potential negative oral health effects. 

For Willis, the message she received was loud and clear: 

“Literally everyone in that office told me I have to stop the flavored air stick dependency,” she said. 

Don’t be afraid to visit a dentist

Willis’ video seemed to scare some of her followers, who admitted they are now afraid to go to the dentist.

But Willis encouraged them to seek care and assured them that a professional dentist would not judge or shame them and would help in any way they could.

“They were so sweet about it and assured me not to feel guilty, but proud I was there to take care of it!!” Willis explained. 

“They were really nice and non-judgmental,” she added. “It never hurts to get a checkup/ cleaning.” 

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@mk9unit they did tell me i look 16 tho 😍🫶🏼🤪😀🥹😐🙏🙏☠️🆘🆘 #fyp#foryou#foryoupage#college#rant #vlog#eastcoast#BeCyberSmart#tiptok#tiktoktaughtme#stressrelief#mentalhealth#dating#storytime#dentist#cavities ♬ original sound - mk