Does Nicotine Exposure Increase Caries Risk?

Smoking is a global and national health problem and is one of the most significant health risks that impacts all age groups. Much research has been conducted on the association between dental caries and smoking. A growing number of studies indicate that nicotine—which is an alkaloid component of tobacco—is a major contributor to dental caries. A laboratory at the Indiana University School of Dentistry has demonstrated that nicotine stimulates biofilm formation and metabolic activity of oral pathogens, such as Streptococcus mutans, a Gram-positive oral bacterium. As a result, this stimulation increases S. mutans biofilm formation and metabolism of sucrose into lactic acid, consequently contributing to dental caries.