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Abstract

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) emerged and were marketed as a more viable alternative to traditional tobacco smoking, especially among the youth. While there is insufficient evidence clearly explaining the effects of e-cigarette use on human health, recent literature has shone light on its various adverse effects on the body, particularly on oral health and its possible contribution to oral microbial dysbiosis. This study explored the potential factors that may have affected the colony counts of oral Candida albicans—the causative agent of thrush. The study participants (N = 40) comprised 22 male and 18 female e-cigarette users aged 18 to 22 from Dasmariñas, Cavite. All the participants had oral C. albicans counts above the threshold values postulated by various literature ( = 3.41 x 1010 CFU/mL). No significant relationship was found between the participants’ age (ρ = 0.0909), sex (ρ = 0.6934), frequency of e-cigarette usage (ρ = -0.1127), duration of e-cigarette usage (ρ = -0.1561), and exposure to active ingredient (ρ = 0.0112) to the oral C. albicans colony counts. Nevertheless, adequate knowledge and awareness of e-cigarette usage presents valuable information to users and non-users alike to avoid its potential adverse effects and empower those who are susceptible to it.

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