E-cigarette aerosol / e-liquid exposure (flavored and unflavored; nicotine and non-nicotine) vs Unexposed controls / unflavored e-liquid / conventional cigarette smoke
Cariogenic and commensal oral bacteria (S. mutans and commensal streptococci growth, adhesion, biofilm) · Oral bacteria (streptococci), dental hard tissue (enamel/dentin) and e-liquids studied in vitro/ex vivo (with a few clinical microbiome…
Most in vitro studies indicate e-cigarette aerosol/e-liquid (especially flavored/high-concentration) disrupts normal oral flora and favors cariogenic S. mutans growth and biofilm, plausibly increasing caries risk; not pooled (ungraded, narrative).
1 finding from 1 review
- The effects of electronic smoking on dental caries and proinflammatory markers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesLaboratory (in vitro/ex vivo) studies of oral bacteria and dental hard tissue, plus a few clinical oral-microbiome studiesNarrative synthesis of 9 studies (Table 2). E-cigarette aerosol/e-liquid at higher concentrations (>=5%) and flavored liquids inhibited commensal oral streptococci and allowed S. mutans to proliferate, with increased…9 studiesGRADE not reported