STATE OF MICROBIOCENOSIS OF THE MOUTH OF THE CONSUMERS OF ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES AND TOBACCO HEATING SYSTEMS

Kishkan Alexey Alekseevich

Introduction. The use of e-cigarettes and tobacco heating systems is often perceived and promoted as a safer alternative to cigarette smoking due to the absence or reduction of harmful combustion products. However, to date, there is a small amount of research proving the safety of electronic cigarettes and tobacco heating systems, including their effect on the appearance of opportunistic microflora in the oral fluid. The purpose of the study: to evaluate the effect of smoking electronic cigarettes and tobacco heating systems on the features of changes in the microbiocenosis of the oral cavity. Materials and methods. During planned sanitation or when applying for dental care, 150 people aged 18 to 55 were screened. All patients were divided into 3 equal groups of 50 people. Study group 1 included ES smokers (ES group), study group 2 consisted of SNT smokers (SNT group). The control group consisted of visually clinically healthy individuals not using ES/SNT (control group). The study analyzed the results of an express analysis of the oral fluid on the state of microbiocenosis of the oral cavity. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out on the basis of the Microsoft Excel application packages and using specialized software STATISTICA 64 ver.20.0. (StatSoft Inc.). Results. According to the data obtained, the absolute content of acetic acid (C2) below the norm was noted both among patients of the SNT group and in the ES group, while the absolute content of propionic (C3) and butyric (C4) acids among patients of the SNT group and the ES group exceeded norm. The indicators of the relative total content of isoacids in the ES and SNT groups were statistically significantly higher than in patients in the control group and in the norm. The indicators of the relative total content of isoacids to straight-chain acids (isoSp/Cn) in the ES and SNT groups were statistically significantly lower than in patients in the control group and in the norm. The ratio of isoC5 - isovaleric to C5 - valeric acid in the total content of C2‒C6 was sharply increased in the groups of patients-smokers and was statistically significantly higher than in patients in the control group. Anaerobic index values below the norm were noted both among patients in the SNT group and in the ES group. Statistically significant differences between groups were revealed both in the general comparison of intergroup indicators and in pairwise comparison of groups for all analyzed parameters at the level of p <0.05. Findings. The results of the study proved that the use of ES and SNT is a negative factor causing a violation of the normal microbiocenosis of the oral cavity, which is characterized by an imbalance in the concentration of metabolites produced by the microflora of certain genera. These patients have an increased risk of development and/or progression of inflammatory diseases of the oral mucosa and odontogenic diseases.

Keywords:smoking, oral microbiocenosis, oral health, electronic cigarette, vaping, tobacco heating system