Effects of E-cigarette on Oral Health – A Systematic Scoping Review

Abstract

Background: E-cigarettes have been perceived as a safer product compared to conventional cigarettes and have often been used for the purpose of cigarette smoking cessation. The aim of this scoping review is to provide a systematic review of the existing literature on the effects of e-cigarettes on human oral health and oral tissues. Methodology: Systematic literature search was undertaken and reviewed independently by two experts in online databases till May 2019. Both human and invitro studies were included. Guidelines of preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) were followed for reporting of the data. Results: A total of 24 studies were included following removal of duplicates, title and abstract screening and; full text screening. E-cigarettes have deleterious effects on the oral cavity tissues comprising of clinical findings of periodontium, gingiva, oral hygiene and micro-organism growth. In addition, there is a threat of serious injuries associated with e-cigarette explosion. In-vitro studies reveal e-cigarette use may lead to oxidative damage, altered morphology, reduced cell viability and cytotoxicity of oral epithelial and fibroblast cells. Conclusions: Though e-cigarettes have been found to be less harmful than the conventional cigarette smoking, there is a need to exercise caution while considering it as a smoking cessation tool. Longitudinal population-based studies are required for analyzing its in-vivo effect on oral tissues.