The Effect of Electronic Cigarette Use on Salivary Gland Volume, pH, and Histology

Abstract

Electronic cigarettes are nicotine delivery devices that heat a liquid (e-liquid) to produce an aerosol inhaled by the user. Salivary volume, pH, and histology are important parameters reflecting salivary gland physiology and overall oral health. This review aimed to examine the effect of e-cigarette use on these three parameters. Articles were searched through the Google Scholar and PubMed databases, and ten articles meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed and synthesized narratively. Salivary pH was the most frequently examined variable (eight of ten articles), although the direction of change was inconsistent across studies. Salivary volume and flow rate were explicitly examined in only one study and showed no significant difference between conventional cigarette and vape users. Histopathological findings, reported through case reports and a scoping review, included mucosal hyperparakeratosis without dysplasia, periodontal tissue damage from plaque and tar accumulation, and, based on animal data, ductal dilation, connective tissue thickening, and epithelial degeneration with cytoplasmic vacuolization in the submandibular gland. In conclusion, e-cigarettes have the potential to affect oral physiological balance, particularly salivary pH and the integrity of periodontal and mucosal tissue.