First-ever study shows e-cigarettes damage gums

A new study suggests that electronic cigarettes are as equally damaging to gums and teeth as conventional cigarettes.

The study, published in last month’s issue of Oncotarget, and conducted by a team from the University of Rochester Medical Center led by Professor Irfan Rahman, is the first to address e-cigarettes and their detrimental effect on oral health on both a cellular and molecular level.

Electronic cigarettes continue to grow in popularity among younger adults and current and former smokers because they are often perceived as a healthier alternative to their conventional counterparts.

Previously, scientists thought that the chemicals found in cigarette smoke were the culprits behind adverse health effects, but a growing body of scientific data, including this study, indicates otherwise.

“We showed that when the vapors from an e-cigarette are burned, it causes cells to release inflammatory proteins which, in turn, aggravate stress within cells resulting in damage that could lead to various oral diseases,” said Professor Rahman, who last year published a study about the damaging effects of e-cigarette vapors and flavorings on lung cells, and an earlier study on their pollution effects.

“How much and how often someone is smoking e-cigarettes will determine the extent of damage to the gums and oral cavity,” he said.

The study, which exposed 3D human, non-smoker gum tissue to the vapors of e-cigarettes, also found that the flavoring chemicals play a role in damaging cells in the mouth.

“We learned that the flavorings—some more than others—made the damage to the cells even worse,” said Fawad Javed, a post-doctoral student who contributed to the study.

Most e-cigarettes contain a battery, a heating device, and a cartridge to hold liquid, which typically contains nicotine (known to contribute to gum disease), flavorings, and other chemicals. The battery-powered device heats the liquid in the cartridge into an aerosol that the user inhales.

“More research, including long-term and comparative studies, are needed to better understand the health effects of e-cigarettes,” said Professor Rahman, who would like to see manufacturers disclose all the materials and chemicals used, so consumers can become more educated about potential dangers.
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