The association between nicotine stomatitis and waterpipe smoking

Area of Science:

• Oral Health
• Public Health
• Tobacco Control

Background:

• Waterpipe smoking (WPS) is increasingly popular globally, particularly in the Middle East, posing significant oral health risks.
• Nicotine stomatitis (NS) is an inflammatory palate condition caused by tobacco irritation and heat.
• Hot beverages may exacerbate NS due to their high temperatures, suggesting a synergistic effect.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between waterpipe smoking (WPS) and nicotine stomatitis (NS) in Kuwait.
• To explore the role of hot beverage consumption in the development of NS among waterpipe smokers.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 211 participants in public locations in Kuwait.
• Data collection included questionnaires on demographics, smoking habits, and hot beverage intake.
• Oral examinations were conducted to diagnose NS, with data analyzed using SPSS statistics.

Main Results:

• Nicotine stomatitis (NS) was observed in 26.1% of participants (55 subjects).
• All participants with NS consumed hot beverages; 67.3% were waterpipe smokers.
• Increased tobacco heads smoked and longer daily smoking duration were significantly associated with NS presence.

Conclusions:

• Waterpipe smoking (WPS) and male gender are associated with a higher likelihood of nicotine stomatitis (NS).
• The number of tobacco heads and daily hours of WPS correlate with NS lesion presence.
• Public health strategies to curb WPS are crucial, and further research into causal links is recommended.