Smoking and Vaping and Their Effects on Oral Health: A Short Communication

Hayat QJ, Khattak SU and Marwat UM

Published on: 2025-09-01

Abstract

Cigarette smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, including nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which exert cytotoxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic effects. Nicotine alters neutrophil chemotaxis, impairs gingival blood flow, and fosters anaerobic biofilm growth, making smoking the strongest modifiable risk factor for periodontitis. Vasoconstriction, reduced angiogenesis, and impaired fibroblast function delay recovery after extractions, implant placement, and orthognathic procedures. Chronic exposure to carcinogens present in cigarette smoke increases oral squamous cell carcinoma risk by up to sixfold compared to non-smokers along with smoker’s melanosis, leukoplakia, erythroplakia, and nicotine stomatitis remain frequent findings in long-term users.