Flavour of the moment?

Cigarette smoking has profound effects on oral health and the public are increasingly aware of the harmful effects of tobacco on their general health. Consequently, they are looking to alternative ‘healthier’ forms of nicotine to maintain or in some cases to stop their addiction. Smoking is a well-established risk factor for periodontitis, and it enhances the pathogenic nature of oral bacteria and escalates the production of plaque. Tobacco smoke is also carcinogenic, increasing the tumours in the mouth and head and neck region.¹ The general public are gradually reducing their cigarette consumption and turning to the alternative forms of nicotine delivery devices, such as the electronic cigarette (e-cigs). Since their introduction in 2004, there has been rapid growth in sales, with an estimated 2.6 million regular users in the UK.² During this time, e-cigs have been largely unregulated, being widely available and have been heavily advertised on television and the internet. This significantly increased when the large tobacco companies, such as BAT, began buying up the small, independent manufacturers or producing their own brand, such as the e-Voke.³