A recent study has shown that smoking and vaping can compromise oral health by favoring the growth of harmful bacteria.
Smoking and vaping have been associated with an increase in oral bacteria. Photo: Shutterstock
An alarming WHO statistic shows that smoking is responsible for 8 million deaths annually. However, 1.3 billion people, mostly in poor countries, continue to smoke. Regardless of the amount, smoking is extremely harmful and can lead to cardiovascular disease and cancer. Exposure to other people’s cigarette smoke is no less dangerous.
The oral microbiome, a community of microorganisms in the oral cavity, is essential for maintaining oral and whole-body health. As the first point of contact with the outside world, the mouth houses a complex oral microbiome that not only protects the oral cavity, but also contributes to digestion and strengthening the immune system.
Any imbalance of the oral microbiome can have serious consequences, from periodontitis and local inflammation to serious diseases such as cardiovascular, oncological or renal.
Factors such as poor oral hygiene, unhealthy diet, alcohol consumption and smoking can disrupt the oral bacterial balance, favoring the appearance of serious conditions.
A recent study, based on data from 128 people who participated in a previous study, deepened our understanding of how it influences the bacterial composition of the oral cavity. Thus, which types of bacteria can be more precisely affected were analyzed.
In a recent study, published in Heliyon, researchers examined the link between smoking and bacteria in the oral cavity. The researchers observed significant differences in the bacterial composition of the oral cavity between smokers and non-smokers. Smokers had higher concentrations of pathogenic bacteria, such as Fusobacterium, Campylobacter and Tannerella forsythia. These bacteria are associated with gum diseases and can contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases by inducing systemic inflammatory processes.
Smoking is a major risk factor for oral health. Toxic substances in cigarette smoke, including nicotine, tar, and heavy metals, alter the oral environment by reducing tissue oxygenation, altering pH, and inhibiting salivary secretion. These changes favor the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis, involved in the etiology of dental caries and periodontal diseases.
In addition, smoking compromises the healing and regeneration processes of oral tissues, thus aggravating the development of dental conditions. The overgrowth of these organisms destroys the balance of healthy bacteria that are normally found on the surfaces of the teeth, tongue and palate.
By increasing the number of bacterial receptors, nicotine facilitates the formation of biofilm, a real colony of bacteria housed in an extracellular matrix. Dental biofilms are directly associated with periodontal diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis, which are characterized by inflammation and destruction of the tissues that support the teeth. In the absence of proper treatment, these conditions can lead to tooth loss.
These disrupted bacterial colonies can undermine the body’s immune response, slowing healing processes and promoting chronic inflammation. Persistent inflammation is associated with loss of gum and bone tissue, which can lead to tooth loss and increased risk of systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease. In addition, dental biofilms can harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria, making oral infections more difficult to treat.
The study carried out by South African researchers emphasizes the direct link between smoking and the occurrence of oral diseases. The toxic substances in cigarettes disrupt the delicate balance of the oral microbiota, favoring the growth of harmful bacteria and increasing the risk of gum disease, tooth decay and even oral cancer. The good news is that quitting smoking can reverse this process, allowing a healthy oral microbiome to be restored. By reducing inflammation and stimulating tissue regeneration, quitting smoking helps prevent oral disease and significantly improves quality of life. The authors of the study emphasize the importance of prevention campaigns, especially among young people, to reduce the prevalence of smoking and protect the oral health of the population.
