Oral Candida carriage among cigarette‐ and waterpipe‐smokers, and electronic cigarette users

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of a cross-sectional study examining the oral carriage of Candida among cigarette-smokers, waterpipe-smokers, electronic cigarette (E-Cig) users, and never-smokers. The study aims to compare the oral Candida carriage and species prevalence among these four groups.

Key Points:

* The study design is a cross-sectional, observational cohort study conducted at the Dental Health Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
* The inclusion criteria are cigarette-smokers, waterpipe-smokers, E-Cig users, and never-smokers, while the exclusion criteria are dual-smokers, former-smokers, edentulous individuals, and individuals with self-reported systemic disorders.
* Participants were divided into four groups: cigarette-smokers, waterpipe-smokers, E-Cig users, and never-smokers.
* A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and information regarding smoking and vaping habits.
* The concentrated oral rinse culture technique and PCR were used to determine oral Candida species.
* Unstimulated whole salivary flow rate (UWSFR) was recorded for each participant.
* The study found that oral C. albicans carriage was significantly higher among cigarette-smokers, waterpipe-smokers, and E-Cig users than never-smokers.

Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of understanding the impact of smoking and vaping on oral health. The results indicate that oral C. albicans carriage is significantly higher among cigarette-smokers, waterpipe-smokers, and E-Cig users compared to never-smokers. The study underscores the need for dental professionals to consider the smoking and vaping habits of their patients when assessing their oral health.

Mokeem, Sameer A., Tariq Abduljabbar, Abdulaziz A. Al‐Kheraif, Mohmmed N. Alasqah, Dimitrios Michelogiannakis, Lakshman P. Samaranayake, and Fawad Javed. “Oral Candida Carriage among Cigarette‐ and Waterpipe‐smokers, and Electronic Cigarette Users.” Oral Diseases 25, no. 1 (January 2019): 319–26. https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.12902.