The detrimental effects of electronic cigarettes on oral health in teenage users
Date
2022
DOI
Authors
Arguedas Pariona, Katheryne
Version
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
With the dramatic rise of electronic cigarette consumption by adolescents over the last decade, health and public officials have been discussing the safety of this product. E-cigarettes were created as a healthy alternative for smoking cessation. Though there has been no evidence of such a claim, these products are still marketed as such, becoming the most popular smoking device among teens for their flavor alternatives and new system to deliver nicotine. Unlike the traditional cigarette, e-cigarettes heat up liquid nicotine and evaporate it, emitting a vapor that is inhaled by users. Recent studies suggest the presence of heavy metals, a higher concentration of nicotine than traditional cigarettes and over a hundred known and unknown toxic ingredients, in the vapor.
This paper presents a review of the effects of these components of e-cigarettes on oral health based on previously conducted research pertaining to smoking and the individual compounds themselves. Secondly, a synthesis of these findings will follow to assess the individual and cumulative impacts those components may have on adolescent oral health within the increasing wave of young consumers (10 to 18 years old).
Research regarding the impacts of toxic components of e-cigarettes has shown their deadly effects on the integrity of bone cells, oral flora, inflammatory markers and tooth development, setting the grounds for a vulnerable oral environment that favors periodontal disease. Chemicals such as cadmium (an environment pollutant) are found in toxic amounts in the vapor inhaled from e-cigarettes, which directly impact bone cell function and their homeostasis, leading to a decay in bone structure and its ability to repair itself, predisposing users to bone related diseases. This alteration in bone cells dynamics impairs the bone’s ability to integrate to metal implants (osteointegration), a feature highly used for the success of dental restorations. Similarly, the damages extend to the integrity of tooth development, especially the enamel, the strongest element in teeth morphology, causing visible malformations and fragile structures. Additionally, other toxic chemicals in the e-liquids solutions are found to abruptly disturb the oral flora, favoring the predominance of cariogenic bacteria, inflammatory markers and consequently creating an unhealthy oral environment vulnerable to infections and tooth loss.
These findings are of great concern for the most common users, adolescents ranging from 10 to 18 years old. During these years, adolescent physiology is undergoing crucial development, requiring higher amounts of calcium as compared to an adult and relying on the natural homeostasis of their bone cells to supply those needs. Additionally, constant disruption in adolescents’ oral flora inhibits its ability to maintain a healthy balance in their oral microbiome, increasing the risk of dental decay and other serious dental problems. All these alterations caused by e-cigarettes damage the oral cavity, allowing dental infections to spread and endanger systemic health.
Certainly, research about the direct effects of smoking e-cigarettes (commonly referred to as “vaping”) is still scarce relative to research currently available on regular smoking. It is important to draw attention to this matter so the general public and scientific community can be equipped to lead further discussion in regard to the oral health of the youth who are currently exposed and to hopefully provide further guidelines for the accessibility of a yet unregulated product, particularly when there is such a lack of information available and potential for harm.