Heterogeneous Oral Health Outcomes by Combustible Cigarette Smoking, E-Cigarette Use and Dual Use: A Cross-Sectional...

Area of Science:

• Oral Health Research
• Tobacco and Nicotine Use Studies
• Public Health

Background:

• Combustible cigarette smoking is a known risk factor for poor oral health.
• The oral health implications of e-cigarette use and dual use (smoking and vaping) are not well understood.
• Differentiating vaping effects from prior smoking consequences is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between different nicotine use profiles and oral health.
• To assess oral health-related quality of life, self-reported oral health indicators, and self-rated dental health.
• To differentiate e-cigarette users based on their smoking history.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of 6027 adults from the 2021 Adult Oral Health Survey in England.
• Participants categorized into five groups: never users, former smokers, exclusive cigarette smokers, exclusive e-cigarette users, and dual users.
• Logistic and ordered logistic regression analyses adjusted for covariates.

Main Results:

• Exclusive cigarette smokers and dual users exhibited the highest odds for adverse oral health outcomes like loose teeth and gum disease history.
• Exclusive e-cigarette users also showed increased odds, though generally less pronounced than smokers.
• Never-smoking e-cigarette users showed no significant excess odds, but this subgroup was small and results are exploratory.

Conclusions:

• Combustible cigarette smoking and dual use are linked to poorer self-reported oral health.
• Interpreting e-cigarette use findings requires caution due to confounding factors like prior smoking history.
• Smoking cessation remains a priority for preventive dental care.