Summary
Introduction:
This article, published in the journal Molecular Oral Microbiology, presents the results of a longitudinal clinical study examining the effect of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) smoking on the bacterial community structure in the saliva of 101 periodontitis patients. The study aimed to investigate the long-term impact of e-cigarette use on periodontal health and oral microbiome composition.
Key Points:
* The study had two study visits, 6 months apart, and included 101 periodontitis patients who were cigarette smokers, e-cigarette smokers, or nonsmokers.
* The data demonstrated that e-cigarette use altered the oral microbiome in periodontitis patients, enriching members of the Filifactor, Treponema, and Fusobacterium taxa.
* For patients at the same periodontal disease stage, cigarette smokers and e-cigarette smokers shared more similarities in their oral bacterial composition.
* E-cigarette smoking may have a similar potential as cigarette smoking at altering the bacterial composition of saliva over time, leading to an increase in the relative abundance of periodontal disease-associated pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum.
* The correlation analysis showed that certain genera, such as Dialister, Selenomonas, and Leptotrichia in the e-cigarette smoking group, were positively correlated with the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including IFN- γ, IL-1β, and TNF- α.
* E-cigarette use was also associated with elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as IFN- γand TNF-α, which contribute to oral microbiome dysbiosis and advanced disease state.
Main Message:
The study suggests that e-cigarette use may have a similar potential as cigarette smoking at altering the bacterial composition of saliva over time, leading to an increase in the relative abundance of periodontal disease-associated pathogens and elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Therefore, e-cigarette use may have a negative impact on periodontal health and oral microbiome composition, similar to cigarette smoking. healthcare providers and policymakers should be aware of these potential risks when advising patients about the use of e-cigarettes.
Citation
Xu F, Pushalkar S, Lin Z, et al. Electronic cigarette use enriches periodontal pathogens. Molecular oral microbiology. 2022;37(2):63-76. doi:10.1111/omi.12361
