Clinical Investigation of Periodontal Health in Smoker and Nonsmoker Individuals

Vaping, argileh, and electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) smoking are becoming popular among adolescents and conventional smokers. While the impact of conventional smoking on oral tissues is well-established, the impact of other types of smoking on oral health is still unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to compare pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, especially interleukin (IL)-1β and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8 in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) between nonsmokers and different types of smokers. The plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and probing depth (PD) were also examined.

Demographic data were collected from 112 participants attending the Jordan University Hospital using a questionnaire. The groups included were nonsmokers and smokers of either cigarettes, argileh, vaping, or a combination of different types. Besides the basic clinical examination, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were measured using ELISA.

The mean PI was significantly lower in nonsmokers compared to the combination smoking group and to all smoking groups combined (p  < 0.05). BOP was significantly higher in argileh smokers compared to the vaping group. No statistically significant differences were observed in MMP-8 and IL-1β levels among the studied groups.

Within the limitations of this study, smoking status was not associated with significant differences in GCF levels of IL-1β and MMP-8 among periodontally healthy and gingivitis participants. However, differences in BOP were observed between specific smoking groups, suggesting that smoking modality may influence clinical inflammatory presentation.