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Cigarette smoking and the harmful chemicals released during smoking have negative effects on oral health. As a measure of harm reduction, a new alternative tobacco heating system (THS) has been developed. The aim of the study was to analyze and compare the effects of conventional cigarettes and THS on the oral mucosa, the salivary flow rate (SFR), halitosis, and the load of Candida spp. The study included 20 tobacco heating smokers, 20 conventional cigarette smokers, and 20 nonsmokers. The subjects completed questionnaires on medical information, smoking habits, oral lesions, and symptoms. A clinical examination and SFR test were performed on each subject, followed by an organoleptic assessment of halitosis. Mucosal swabs were collected and cult ured to identify Candida spp. Significant differences were found between the smoking groups in relation to halitosis (p < 0.001; ε2 = 0.624), intraoral findings (p < 0.001; ε2 = 0.507), SFR (p < 0.001; ε2 = 0.0331) and dry mouth for subjective complaints (p = 0.021; ε2 = 0.363). The SFR was significantly lower; however, halitosis, the prevalence of intraoral findings, and dry mouth were significantly higher among smokers, but there were no significant differences between THS and conventional smokers. The present study suggests that THS smoking has similar effects on oral tissues, especially the SFR and halitosis, as conventional cigarette smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological therapy of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) carries an increased risk for the development of opportunistic infections due to immunomodulation. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and types of oral infections in IBD patients treated with biological (anti-TNF-α and anti-integrin-α4β7) and conventional medication protocols. The study included 20 IBD patients receiving anti-TNF-α therapy, 20 IBD patients receiving anti-integrin-α4β7 therapy and 20 IBD patients without immunomodulatory therapy. Participants completed questionnaires on medical information, oral lesions and symptoms. For each patient, clinical examination and a salivary flow rate test were performed, followed by a swab of the oral mucosa. The swab samples were cultured to identify Candida spp. and oral bacteria. No bacterial opportunistic infections were detected. Candidiasis was detected in four participants, with no significant difference between groups (p = 0.765). Hyposalivation was most common in the anti-TNF-α group, with a significant difference between groups (p = 0.036). There were no significant differences between groups in self-reported oral mucosal lesions and symptoms (p > 0.05), or in the distribution of oral mucosal lesions (p > 0.05). This study suggests that IBD patients receiving biological therapy are at no greater risk of developing oral opportunistic infections than IBD patients not receiving immunomodulatory therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]