Alterations in oral microbial flora induced by waterpipe tobacco smoking

Abstract

Background

Waterpipe smoking is a global health problem and a serious public concern. Little is known about the effects of waterpipe smoking on oral health. In the current study, we examined the alterations of oral microbial flora by waterpipe smoking.

Methods

One hundred adult healthy subjects (59 waterpipe smokers and 41 non-smokers) were recruited into the study. Swabs were taken from the oral cavity and subgingival regions. Standard culturing techniques were used to identify types, frequency, and mean number of microorganisms in cultures obtained from the subjects.

Results

It was notable that waterpipe smokers were significantly associated with a history of oral infections. In subgingiva, Acinetobacter and Moraxella species were present only in waterpipe smokers. In addition, the frequency of Candida albicans was higher in the subgingiva of waterpipe smokers (p = 0.023) while the frequency of Fusobacterium nucleatum was significantly lower in the subgingiva of waterpipe smokers (p = 0.036). However, no change was observed in other tested bacteria, such as Campylobacter species; Viridans group streptococci, Enterobacteriaceae, and Staphylococcus aureus. In oral cavity and when colony-forming units were considered, the only bacterial species that showed significant difference were the black-pigmented bacteria (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study provides evidence indicating that some of the oral microflora is significantly altered by waterpipe smoking.

Keywords:

• waterpipe
• smoking
• oral microflora
• hookah
• tobacco

Acknowledgments

The abstract of this paper was presented at the 2nd World Congress on Pediatric Care and Pediatric Infectious Diseases and the International conference on Pediatric Care and Pediatric Infectious Diseases as an abstract presentation with interim findings. The poster’s abstract was published in “Poster Abstracts” in J Infect Dis Ther 2016, 4:4(Suppl).

This work was supported by a grant from the Deanship of Research at Jordan University of Science and Technology (grant number 152/2012 to MAKS and OFK).

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.