EFFECTS OF ELETRONIC CIGARRETE USE ON THE ORAL CAVITY: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS AMONG USERS, CONVENTIONAL SMOKE RS, AND NON-SMOKERS

Abstract

Electronic cigarettes are automated devices developed to simulate the act of smoking through the vaporization of liquids that may contain nicotine, flavorings, and various chemical substances. Although they emerged on the market as a safer alternative to conventional cigarettes, their effects remain controversial in the scientific literature. In this context, the present study aimed to comparatively analyze the implications of electronic cigarettes on the oral cavity among vape users, conventional smokers, and non-smokers. The search mechanisms used included the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, using the following Portuguese descriptors: “Vaping”; “Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems”; “Smokers”; “Oral Health”; and “Preventive Dentistry”, as well as the English descriptors “E-cigarette”; “Conventional Cigarette”; and “Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems”, combined through the Boolean operators “AND” and “OR” to expand the scope and specificity of the research. Oral alterations such as periodontal diseases, oral lesions, xerostomia, halitosis, and changes in the oral microbiota were analyzed. The results indicated that electronic cigarette users present oral impairments similar to those observed in conventional smokers. It is concluded that electronic cigarettes are not free from risks to oral health, highlighting the need for greater awareness regarding their effects and for further research in this field.