Electronic nicotine delivery system-induced alterations in oral health via saliva assessment.

IMPACT STATEMENT: The use of traditional tobacco products is a known risk factor for the development of diseases including periodontal disease. To date, the potential oral health effects related to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use is unknown. This study collected saliva from ENDS users and never tobacco users to examine differences in the oral cavity of inflammatory cytokines and metabolites. The identification and measurement of these ENDS-related changes provide insight into disease pathways potentially associated with ENDS use. The utilization of saliva samples collected from human participates enhances the application of the findings compared to the majority of studies using cell culture and animal models. In addition, these foundational findings can inform future studies to examining specific pathways identified, interventional approaches, and application of translatable biomarkers of ENDS use.