A study from Italy looking at oral health in e-cigarette users

Research from Italy that looked at the oral condition of real-world vapers who had just switched from smoking, indicated that the shift to the safer alternatives greatly improved their oral health.

Diane Caruana

October 30, 2017

This clinical observational study was carried out at the Unit of Periodontology and Oral Hygiene of Calabrodental Clinic in Crotone Italy, and published in December last year, on NCBI.

At the start of the study, 61% in group 1 and 65% in group 2, experienced gum bleeding, when re-examined at the end of the study, 92% and 98% respectively, experienced no bleeding.

The participants comprised of 110 smokers who had just switched to vaping, and had their oral health examined at the start of the study, then after 60 days and also after 120 days from the initial examination. Additionally these new vapers were divided in two different categories, those who had smoked for less than 10 years (group 1), and those who had smoked for longer than 10 years (group 2).

When examined at the start of the study, 85% of group 1 had a plaque index score of 1 out of 3, with only 15 of them having no plaque at all. For group 2, three-quarters of the participants had a plaque index of 2 and none of them had a 0 plaque score. When examined again at the end of the study, 92% of group 1 and 87% of group 2, boasted plaque scores of 0.

With regards to gum bleeding, at the start of the study, 61% of participants in group 1 and 65% of those in group 2, experienced bleeding when poked with a probe. Subsequently, when re-examined at the end of the study, 92% of those in group 1 and a total of 98% of the participants in group 2, experienced no bleeding when probed.

Switching from smoking to vaping improved oral condition of participants

While it is a known fact that smokers are at a high risk of gum disease, plaque buildup and periodontal disease amongst other things, this study clearly indicates that there is a positive correlation between switching from smoking to vaping and an improvement in oral health.

“In the light of this pilot study, the e-cigarette can be considered as a valuable alternative to tobacco cigarettes, but with a positive impact on periodontal and general health status.”Study Abstract

“At the end of the study, we registered a progressive improvement in the periodontal indexes, as well as in the general health perception. Finally, many patients reported an interesting reduction in the need to smoke,” read the study abstract, concluding, “In the light of this pilot study, the e-cigarette can be considered as a valuable alternative to tobacco cigarettes, but with a positive impact on periodontal and general health status.”