The association between electronic-cigarette use and self-reported oral symptoms including cracked or broken teeth and tongue and/or inside-cheek pain among adolescents: A cross-sectional study

Introduction:
This article is a cross-sectional study examining the relationship between electronic cigarette (EC) use and oral health among adolescents in South Korea. The study focuses on the association between EC use and oral symptoms such as gingival pain and/or bleeding, tongue and/or inside-cheek pain, and cracked or broken teeth.

Key Points:

* The study included 65,528 students from the Twelfth Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS) in 2016.
* Oral symptoms were self-reported and included gingival pain and/or bleeding, tongue and/or inside-cheek pain, and cracked or broken teeth.
* EC use was defined as having ever used an EC in one's lifetime and was categorized into never users, former users, 1-29 days past month users, and daily users.
* After adjusting for potential confounders, the odds of cracked or broken teeth among daily, 1-29 days past month, and former EC users were significantly higher than those among never EC users.
* The odds of tongue and/or inside-cheek pain among daily EC users were significantly higher than those among never EC users.
* There was no association between EC use and gingival pain and/or bleeding.
* The study suggests that EC use among adolescents may be a risk factor for tongue and/or inside-cheek pain and cracked or broken teeth.

Main Message:
This study provides valuable insights into the relationship between EC use and oral health among adolescents. The findings suggest that EC use may be associated with an increased risk of oral symptoms such as cracked or broken teeth and tongue and/or inside-cheek pain. Further research is needed to confirm these results and to better understand the potential mechanisms behind this association. It is crucial to educate adolescents about the potential risks of EC use and to encourage them to maintain good oral hygiene habits. Additionally, regulatory measures may be necessary to limit the availability and appeal of ECs to adolescents.

Cho, Jun Ho. “The Association between Electronic-Cigarette Use and Self-Reported Oral Symptoms Including Cracked or Broken Teeth and Tongue and/or inside-Cheek Pain among Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study.” Edited by Yu Ru Kou. PLOS ONE 12, no. 7 (July 11, 2017): e0180506. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180506.