Association between Regular Electronic Nicotine Product Use and Self-Reported Periodontal Disease Status: Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Survey

Introduction:
This text analyzes a study on the association between electronic nicotine product use and new cases of gum disease in a large, nationally representative sample using data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study. The study aimed to determine if the use of electronic nicotine products was associated with increased odds of gum disease and bone loss around teeth, even after controlling for use of conventional cigarettes and other known risk factors.

Key Points:

* The study used public use PATH survey data from 2013-2016 (waves 1, 2 and 3) and included adults who completed Waves 1, 2 and 3 of the PATH survey, reported ever having had their teeth cleaned by a dentist, hygienist, or other health professionals by wave 3, and reported no history of "gum disease" at baseline (wave 1).
* The study found that participants with no history of gum disease who used electronic nicotine products regularly every day or somedays for a year or more had increased odds of being diagnosed with gum disease, bone loss around the teeth, and any periodontal disease compared to never-electronic nicotine product users after adjusting for longitudinal cigarette use and other confounding factors.
* The odds of being diagnosed with gum disease and bone loss were slightly higher for participants that had a history of marijuana use and a history of illicit or non-prescribed drug use.
* The study supports the association between electronic nicotine product use and periodontal disease, as e-cigarette vapor has been shown to promote cell apoptosis, necrosis, and persistent DNA damage in gingival epithelium.
* The study used a large number of participants who were nationally representative of the United States, non-institutionalized adult population and the data was longitudinal, which allowed for the investigation of the association between the use of electronic nicotine products and a diagnosis of gum disease and bone loss around the teeth for participants who had no reported history of gum disease.

Main Message:
The study provides evidence that electronic nicotine product use is associated with increased risk of developing periodontal disease, even after accounting for the use of other tobacco products and other confounders. The study highlights the importance of considering the impact on oral health when educating and advising patients about electronic nicotine product use. More research is necessary to assess the long-term effects and the safety of electronic nicotine products on oral health. Medical professionals should consider this information when advising patients about the potential risks associated with electronic nicotine product use.

Atuegwu, Nkiruka, Mario Perez, Cheryl Oncken, Sejal Thacker, Erin Mead, and Eric Mortensen. “Association between Regular Electronic Nicotine Product Use and Self-Reported Periodontal Disease Status: Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Survey.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 7 (April 9, 2019): 1263. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16071263.