Electronic cigarette use enriches periodontal pathogens

Area of Science:

• Oral microbiology
• Periodontology
• E-cigarette research

Background:

• Long-term effects of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use on oral health remain largely unknown.
• Understanding e-cigarette's impact on the oral microbiome is crucial for public health.
• Periodontitis patients represent a vulnerable group for oral health complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the longitudinal effects of e-cigarette use on salivary bacterial community structure.
• To compare the oral microbiome alterations between e-cigarette users and traditional cigarette smokers.
• To explore the relationship between e-cigarette use, oral bacteria, and inflammatory markers.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal clinical study with 101 periodontitis patients.
• Two study visits conducted 6 months apart.
• Analysis of salivary bacterial community structure and proinflammatory cytokine levels.

Main Results:

• E-cigarette use altered the oral microbiome, enriching specific taxa like Filifactor, Treponema, and Fusobacterium.
• Oral bacterial composition in e-cigarette smokers showed similarities to traditional cigarette smokers.
• E-cigarette use correlated with increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1β, TNF-α) and periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum).

Conclusions:

• E-cigarette smoking significantly impacts the oral microbiome in periodontitis patients.
• E-cigarette use may pose similar risks to oral health as traditional cigarette smoking.
• Elevated proinflammatory cytokines linked to e-cigarette use contribute to oral dysbiosis and disease progression.