It has long been known that smoking cigarettes, cigars and pipes is harmful to the health of the mouth: nicotine penetrates tooth enamel and stains it, and the heat produced by burning tobacco damages the lining of the mouth, inflaming the gums and contributing to the development of periodontal disease and oral cancer, not to mention the effects of inhaled nicotine on the throat, bronchi and lungs.
The arrival of electronic cigarettes, or e-cigs, has represented a healthier alternative for many smokers. These devices vaporise a mixture containing nicotine and flavouring/humectant agents in varying proportions, at lower temperatures than ordinary cigarettes. They have become especially popular among young people, probably attracted by the variety of flavourings on the market (fruity, caramel and so on) and by the possibility of adjusting the nicotine concentration to suit themselves.
Because the phenomenon is fairly recent, the potential toxicity of e-cigarette vapour for the mouth has only lately been examined. Research has focused in particular on the presence of numerous potentially harmful chemicals besides nicotine, including aldehydes and heavy metals which, if not properly controlled, can be responsible for the development of periodontal and lung disease.
In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that using e-cigs can cause inflammation in the mouth and alter the body’s repair responses, for example by affecting the ability of wounds to heal and by encouraging the release of various pro-inflammatory mediators. In addition, flavouring agents can interact with nicotine and produce, among other things, harmful effects on the periodontal ligament and gingival fibroblasts.
The cumulative effects of this damage have yet to be documented in detail, but the observations made so far are alarming: in the short term there is an increased risk of gum infection, inflammation and disease; in the long term, a probable increase in the risk of cancer. While we wait for further studies to help us better understand the relationship between e-cigarettes, traditional smoking and health, our advice is, if possible, to give up smoking for good.
