Correlation between e-cigarette use and salivary flow rate, pH, and buffering capacity: a cross-sectional pilot study

The prevalence of e-cigarette use has increased rapidly among youth and adults, partly owing to its advertising as a safer smoking cessation aid. In this cross-sectional pilot study, we aimed to explore the effects of e-smoking, including e-cigarette smoking and nonsmoking, on salivary flow rate, pH, buffering capacity, and salivary consistency. Participants aged 18–45 years at the Dental University Hospital who were healthy and with no systemic or salivary gland diseases were included. Saliva samples were collected and analysed using the Saliva-Check Buffer test. Twenty e-smokers and nineteen nonsmokers were recruited as the comparison groups. All vapers had low resting saliva (χ² = 16.467, p = 0.000), with higher rates of low buffering capacity (36.8% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.000) and acidic pH (92.9% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.000). Vapers also had reduced saliva flow and altered saliva texture (p = 0.000). These findings indicate that vaping is associated with reduced saliva production, decreased buffering capacity, increased oral acidity, and altered saliva texture. The study results show that e-cigarettes have a direct effect on saliva. Saliva check kits can serve as educational tools in clinics to help dentists advise and educate e-cigarette smokers about the oral health effects of e-smoking.