The association between nicotine stomatitis and waterpipe smoking

INTRODUCTION Waterpipe smoking (WPS) is gaining popularity worldwide, especially in the Middle East, and significantly affects oral health. Nicotine stomatitis (NS) is an inflammatory response of the palate to the heat and chemical irritation caused by tobacco. The high temperatures of hot beverages have been found to have a synergistic effect. This study investigated the association of NS among waterpipe smokers and hot beverage drinkers. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted in several public locations in Kuwait. Demographic data, smoking habits, and hot beverage intake were recorded using questionnaires. An oral examination was performed with informed consent, and the occurrence of NS was recorded. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics version 28.0 (IBM Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS Of the 211 participants, 55 subjects (26.1%) presented with NS. All the patients with NS drank hot beverages, while 37 (67.3%) patients with NS were waterpipe smokers and hot beverage drinkers. Smokers with NS smoked significantly more tobacco heads (Z= -2.606; p=0.009) and for more hours per day (Z= -2.222; p=0.026). CONCLUSIONS This study explored the association between WPS and NS in Kuwait. Waterpipe smokers and males were more likely to present with NS. Also, the number of tobacco heads and the number of hours of WPS were found to correlate with the presence of lesions. Effective strategies to reduce WPS need to be implemented. Further studies are recommended to investigate the cause -andeffect relationships.