2018, Volume 10, Issue 2
The effect of nicotine on oral health
Grzegorz Trybek1, Olga Preuss1, Magda Aniko-Włodarczyk1, Piotr Kuligowski1, Ewa Gabrysz-Trybek2, Aleksandra Suchanecka2, Anna Grzywacz2, Patryk Niewczas3
1Department of Dental Surgery, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin
2Independent Laboratory of Health Promotion, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin
3Faculty of Physical Education, University of Rzeszów
Author for correspondence: Magda Aniko-Włodarczyk; Department of Dental Surgery, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin; email: magdaniko@wp.pl
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Abstract
Background: Nicotine absorbed by the skin and also by the digestive, respiratory and excretory systems is one of the most known toxins found in tobacco. This work reviews available literature on the influence of nicotine on human health, and in particular on the oral cavity.
Material/Methods: A review of literature related to the topic of the paper.
Results: Numerous studies indicate that nicotine adversely affects human health. It exerts a negative effect at the cellular level by modifying metabolism, and disturbs the interactions between tissues, which strongly promotes the formation of cancer-like changes. Nicotine causes numerous pathologies in the respiratory, immune, and cardiovascular systems leading to a number of metabolic disorders.
Conclusions: The intake of nicotine contained in tobacco products has a particularly negative effect on the oral cavity. It accelerates periodontitis, with weaker clinical symptoms associated with resistance to conventional treatment. In addition, nicotine changes the oral cavity microflora, increasing the amount of harmful bacteria and pathogenic fungi.
Key words: tobacco, nicotine, oral health