University of Rochester Study Shows E-Cigarettes Damage Gingival Tissue
University of Rochester Study Shows E Cigarettes Damage Gingival Tissue Researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York, have answered the question of whether electronic cigarettes are safer than conventional cigarettes. In the first study to
New Study Shows E-Cigarettes Damage Gingival Tissue
Researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York, have answered the question of whether electronic cigarettes are safer than conventional cigarettes. In the first study to address the effects of e-cigarettes on oral health, the authors confirmed that e-cigarettes damage the teeth and gingiva as much as, if not more than, traditional cigarettes. The results of the study, “E-Cigarettes and Flavorings Induce Inflammatory and Pro-Senescence Responses in Oral Epithelial Cells and Periodontal Fibroblasts,” were published in Oncotarget in October.
E-cigarettes continue to grow in popularity and many users believe they are a safer alternative to conventional forms of tobacco use. In an effort to better educate the public about the risk of e-cigarettes and nicotine, the American Lung Association is calling for the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate these products.
Studying the effect of e-cigarettes on the cellular and molecular levels, the researchers discovered that when vapors from an e-cigarette burn, cells are prompted to release inflammatory proteins. This causes cellular stress and damage that could lead to myriad oral diseases. As might be expected, higher incidence of use correlates to a greater extent of damage to the oral cavity. The authors suggest that additional research is needed to better understand the complete health effects of e-cigarettes.
Hygiene Connection E-Newsletter
December 2016
