Oral health status, self-perceptions, and risk awareness among young adult users of electronic cigarettes in Pakistan

Introduction The use of electronic cigarettes (ECs) has surged globally, particularly among young individuals. This study aimed to assess the perceptions of vapingrelated oral health risks, clinical oral health status, and self-perceived dental and periodontal conditions among young adult users of E...

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Main Authors: Osama Khattak, Farooq A. Chaudhary, Asma Sakoor, Muhammad U. Khattak, Aliya Ehsan, Farida Habib Khan, Ayesha A. Khalid, Yasir D. Siddiqui, Azhar Iqbal, Rakhi Issrani
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Language:English
Published: European Publishing 2024-11-01
Series:Tobacco Induced Diseases
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Online Access:https://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Oral-health-status-self-perceptions-and-risk-awareness-among-young-adult-users-of,194963,0,2.html
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author Osama Khattak
Farooq A. Chaudhary
Asma Sakoor
Muhammad U. Khattak
Aliya Ehsan
Farida Habib Khan
Ayesha A. Khalid
Yasir D. Siddiqui
Azhar Iqbal
Rakhi Issrani
author_facet Osama Khattak
Farooq A. Chaudhary
Asma Sakoor
Muhammad U. Khattak
Aliya Ehsan
Farida Habib Khan
Ayesha A. Khalid
Yasir D. Siddiqui
Azhar Iqbal
Rakhi Issrani
author_sort Osama Khattak
collection DOAJ
description Introduction The use of electronic cigarettes (ECs) has surged globally, particularly among young individuals. This study aimed to assess the perceptions of vapingrelated oral health risks, clinical oral health status, and self-perceived dental and periodontal conditions among young adult users of ECs in Pakistan. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2023 to March 2024, recruiting 142 young users of ECs. Intraoral examinations assessed Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, Oral Hygiene Index Simplified (OHI-S), Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI), Plaque Index (PI), and dental stain. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, oral health behaviors, vaping habits, and perceptions of impact of vaping on oral health were gathered through a selfadministered questionnaire. Associations between EC use and various oral health variables were analyzed using the chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests. Results Mean DMFT was 5.66 (SD=2.20). Poor oral hygiene (29.6%) and severe dental staining were prevalent. Most participants (76.1%) brushed once daily, while only 34.5% attended regular dental check-ups. Gingival bleeding and plaque accumulation were observed in 47.2% and 35.3% of participants. Around 66% reported daily EC use, with 80.3% initiating vaping before the age of 18 years. Most common reason for vaping was perception that ECs are safer than traditional smoking (31.7%). Participants' perceptions of vaping-related oral health risks were relatively low, with 45% associating vaping with tooth decay, 48% with gum disease, and 58.5% with tooth staining. Tooth brushing frequency, vaping frequency (per day), and time since vaping started, were significantly associated with oral clinical indicators (p<0.05). The education level was the only variable significantly associated with vaping-related risk perception (p<0.05). Conclusions The study reveals that oral health awareness among young vapers is low, with many starting EC use at a young age and exhibiting poor oral health behaviors. Misconceptions about the safety of ECs compared to conventional cigarettes may contribute to increased vaping.
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spelling doaj-art-8af32f5f09bb4481ae093fef238434dd2025-08-20T02:58:23ZengEuropean PublishingTobacco Induced Diseases1617-96252024-11-0122November11210.18332/tid/194963194963Oral health status, self-perceptions, and risk awareness among young adult users of electronic cigarettes in PakistanOsama Khattak0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3502-3555Farooq A. Chaudhary1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1748-0413Asma Sakoor2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2775-3892Muhammad U. Khattak3Aliya Ehsan4Farida Habib Khan5Ayesha A. Khalid6Yasir D. Siddiqui7Azhar Iqbal8Rakhi Issrani9https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0046-3529Department of Restorative Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi ArabiaSchool of Dentistry, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad, PakistanInstitute of Dentistry, CMH Lahore Medical College, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, PakistanDepartment of Periodontology, Islamic International Dental College, Riphah International University, Islamabad, PakistanDepartment of Restorative Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Hail, Saudi ArabiaCardiology Department, The Hillingdon Hospital, Uxbridge, United KingdomDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Restorative Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi ArabiaIntroduction The use of electronic cigarettes (ECs) has surged globally, particularly among young individuals. This study aimed to assess the perceptions of vapingrelated oral health risks, clinical oral health status, and self-perceived dental and periodontal conditions among young adult users of ECs in Pakistan. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2023 to March 2024, recruiting 142 young users of ECs. Intraoral examinations assessed Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, Oral Hygiene Index Simplified (OHI-S), Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI), Plaque Index (PI), and dental stain. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, oral health behaviors, vaping habits, and perceptions of impact of vaping on oral health were gathered through a selfadministered questionnaire. Associations between EC use and various oral health variables were analyzed using the chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests. Results Mean DMFT was 5.66 (SD=2.20). Poor oral hygiene (29.6%) and severe dental staining were prevalent. Most participants (76.1%) brushed once daily, while only 34.5% attended regular dental check-ups. Gingival bleeding and plaque accumulation were observed in 47.2% and 35.3% of participants. Around 66% reported daily EC use, with 80.3% initiating vaping before the age of 18 years. Most common reason for vaping was perception that ECs are safer than traditional smoking (31.7%). Participants' perceptions of vaping-related oral health risks were relatively low, with 45% associating vaping with tooth decay, 48% with gum disease, and 58.5% with tooth staining. Tooth brushing frequency, vaping frequency (per day), and time since vaping started, were significantly associated with oral clinical indicators (p<0.05). The education level was the only variable significantly associated with vaping-related risk perception (p<0.05). Conclusions The study reveals that oral health awareness among young vapers is low, with many starting EC use at a young age and exhibiting poor oral health behaviors. Misconceptions about the safety of ECs compared to conventional cigarettes may contribute to increased vaping.https://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Oral-health-status-self-perceptions-and-risk-awareness-among-young-adult-users-of,194963,0,2.htmloral healthyoung adultselectronic cigaretteclinical oral statusself-perceived dental status
spellingShingle Osama Khattak
Farooq A. Chaudhary
Asma Sakoor
Muhammad U. Khattak
Aliya Ehsan
Farida Habib Khan
Ayesha A. Khalid
Yasir D. Siddiqui
Azhar Iqbal
Rakhi Issrani
Oral health status, self-perceptions, and risk awareness among young adult users of electronic cigarettes in Pakistan
Tobacco Induced Diseases
oral health
young adults
electronic cigarette
clinical oral status
self-perceived dental status
title Oral health status, self-perceptions, and risk awareness among young adult users of electronic cigarettes in Pakistan
title_full Oral health status, self-perceptions, and risk awareness among young adult users of electronic cigarettes in Pakistan
title_fullStr Oral health status, self-perceptions, and risk awareness among young adult users of electronic cigarettes in Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed Oral health status, self-perceptions, and risk awareness among young adult users of electronic cigarettes in Pakistan
title_short Oral health status, self-perceptions, and risk awareness among young adult users of electronic cigarettes in Pakistan
title_sort oral health status self perceptions and risk awareness among young adult users of electronic cigarettes in pakistan
topic oral health
young adults
electronic cigarette
clinical oral status
self-perceived dental status
url https://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Oral-health-status-self-perceptions-and-risk-awareness-among-young-adult-users-of,194963,0,2.html
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