Journal
DENTISTRY JOURNAL
Volume 10, Issue 5, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/dj10050085
Keywords
commensal bacteria; biofilms; electronic cigarettes; streptococci; E-liquids; toxicity; oral cavity; bactericidal; bacterial growth
Categories
Funding
- Office of the Provost at Muhlenberg College
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Research has shown that flavoring agents in E-liquid have inhibitory effects on biofilm formation and growth of oral commensal bacteria. Flavored E-liquids have a greater detrimental impact on biofilm formation than flavorless ones, posing risks to the oral microenvironment and systemic health.
Background: Vaping has become a global health concern. As research continues, more studies are beginning to question the relative safety of E-liquid flavoring additives. The oral cavity is the first site of exposure to E-liquid aerosol, making it critical for investigation. Because of the importance of commensal bacterial biofilms for oral health, we sought to explore the effects of E-liquids +/- flavors on the formation and growth of single- and multi-species biofilms and to investigate the mechanism of inhibition. Methods: Quantitative and confocal biofilm analysis, death curves, and colony-forming units (CFU) were evaluated with flavorless and flavored (tobacco, menthol, cinnamon, strawberry, blueberry) E-liquids using four strains of oral commensal bacteria (Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus intermedius, Streptococcus mitis, and Streptococcus oralis). Results: All flavoring agents show a dose-dependent inhibition in the growth of single-species and multi-species biofilms. Furthermore, CFUs, death curves, and light microscopy show that flavoring agents have a bactericidal mode of inhibition on the growth of these oral streptococci. Conclusions: These results show that flavored, rather than unflavored, E-liquids are more detrimental to biofilm formation and growth of oral commensal bacteria. Consequently, E-liquid flavorings agents could pose risks to the oral microenvironment, and by extension, to systemic health.
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