Association between vaping and untreated caries: A cross-sectional study of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018 data

Abstract

Background: With the rise in the prevalence of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) and vaping products and the emergence of evidence indicating their cariogenic potential, it is essential to examine the association between vaping and untreated caries at a population level.

Methods: The authors obtained data from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and investigated the outcome variable-untreated caries-using oral health examination data. The authors applied multiple logistic regression analyses to assess the association between untreated caries and smoking (cigarette smoking, vaping, and both) while controlling for education, race or ethnicity, income, age, sex, and time since previous dental visit.

Results: A total of 4,618 participants were included in the analyses for this cross-sectional study. Participants who currently smoked e-cigarettes were more likely to have untreated caries (odds ratio, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.24 to 2.29) than those who had never smoked, when adjusted for demographic variables. Similarly, dual smokers (e-cigarette and conventional smokers) were more likely to have untreated caries compared with nondual smokers (odds ratio, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.36 to 4.36).

Conclusion: Both vaping and dual smoking are associated with an increased occurrence of untreated caries.

Practical implications: Vaping status should be included as a part of health history questionnaires for patients. Dental professionals should be informed of the potential oral health implications of vaping and, in turn, impart this knowledge to patients.

Keywords: NHANES; Untreated decay; caries; dual smoker; e-cigarette; vaping.