The effects of vaping electronic cigarettes on periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: Electronic cigarettes (E-cigs) have been gaining popularity, increasingly used to help reduce or cease smoking traditional cigarettes (T-cigs). Although E-cigs are considered a far less harmful alternative to T-cigs, there is not enough information regarding the effects of vaping E-cigs on periodontal health. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of vaping E-cigs, smoking T-cigs and smoking cessation on oxidative stress markers, proinflammatory cytokines levels and periodontal clinical parameters in patients with periodontitis. METHODS: The study included a total of 57 individuals who were divided into three groups: T-cig smokers (Group I, n = 19), E-cig vapers (Group II, n = 19) and former smokers (Group III, n = 19). Full-mouth clinical periodontal parameters were recorded and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were collected. RESULTS: The mean interleukin-8 (IL-8) level of Group I (70.47 +/- 2.76) was significantly lower than in Groups II and III. The mean tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) level of Group I (4.20 +/- 0.14) was significantly higher than in Groups II and III. CONCLUSIONS: T-cigs and vaping E-cigs had the same unfavourable effects on the markers of oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines.