The systematic review analysed 18 studies involving more than 1,400 participants and found that most reported changes in the diversity and composition of microorganisms in the mouths of people who vape.
Lead researcher Professor Santosh Tadakamadla, from La Trobe Rural Health School's Discipline of Dentistry and Oral Health, said the findings add to growing evidence that vaping may affect oral health in ways that differ from conventional smoking.
"While more research is needed to understand the long-term health implications, the current evidence suggests vaping can alter the oral microbiome and may increase the presence of bacteria associated with periodontal disease," Professor Tadakamadla said.
The review found that while vaping was consistently associated with microbiome changes, limitations in the existing research, such as lack of information on the composition of the vaping liquid, make it difficult to determine exactly how these changes influence oral health outcomes.
Professor Tadakamadla said further high-quality studies are needed to better understand the relationship between vaping, oral bacteria and disease risk.
The findings contribute to a growing body of research examining the health impacts of e-cigarette use and highlight the importance of oral health considerations in vaping research.
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