New research suggests that vaping is also detrimental to the health of the teeth and gums, adding to the growing body of proof that cigarette smoking causes oral problems.
Scientists determined that persons who use e-cigarettes have a distinct bacterial mix in their mouths, which is likely to be harmful to their oral health in the long run. They were more comparable to cigarettes smokers’ oral bacteria than they were to non-smokers’ oral germs, in fact.
The study
The results, which were reported on Tuesday in the journal mBio, add to a growing body of data that electronic cigarettes cause harm exactly where they reach the body — the mouth.
The oral microbiome, which is a group of microorganisms that exists naturally in the mouth, was the subject of the research. Oral bacteria continually develop a sticky coating on the teeth, known as plaque, which may be managed with everyday brushing and floss, as well as with periodic dental cleanings and examinations by a dentist. Plaque that has penetrated beyond the gum line, on the other hand, may cause tissue irritation and a persistent inflammatory reaction, which is referred to as gum disease.
Smoking cigarettes is known to increase a person’s risk of developing periodontal disease. Vaping is also detrimental to the health of the gums and teeth: Vaping, like cigarette smoking, may disrupt the bacterial equilibrium in the mouth, leaving it more susceptible to inflammation and illness.
Over the course of half a year, the scientists followed the oral health of 84 persons, some of whom were cigarette smokers, some of whom were e-cigarette smokers, and others who were nonsmokers.
Scientists discovered that vapers had a distinct oral microbiome: it was possibly better than that of smokers, but it varied from that of non-smokers in a number of important ways. In many aspects, the oral bacteria of vapers were more similar to those of cigarette users.
It is unknown what this will eventually signify for the dental health of vapers. Due to the fact that e-cigarettes are still in their early stages, it is unclear if they may worsen oral disorders.
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