Effect of salivary cotinine levels in beedi smokers and tobacco chewers on periodontal conditions

Abstract

Abstract Objective Tobacco consumption is one of the risk factors for periodontal disorders. This study aims to assess the periodontal health among beedi smokers and tobacco chewers and its correlation to salivary cotinine levels. Methodology: 60 tobacco-consuming patients between 25–50 years were included in the study. 30 patients were beedi smokers and 30 were smokeless tobacco users. The gingival health was assessed using Gingival Index (GI), Plaque Index (PI) and Sulcular Bleeding Index (SBI). Periodontal health was determined by clinical attachment loss (CAL) and probing pocket depth (PPD). Unstimulated saliva was collected and subjected to Enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA). The correlation between the number of times smoked or chewed per day and the number of years to clinical and biochemical parameters was done. Results The number of beedi smoked daily and number of years smoked was higher than tobacco chewed which was statistically significant (p < 0.001). GI and PI were more significant in beedi smokers than tobacco chewers (p < 0.001). SBI was not significant between both groups (p = 0.859). PPD was more significant in beedi smokers (p = 0.035) but CAL was not significant (p = 0.39). Salivary cotinine is not significant (p = 0.41) and is increased in tobacco chewers (mean = 99.484) than beedi smokers (mean = 94.760). Conclusion Beedi smoking has more adverse effects on periodontium than tobacco chewing. Yet tobacco chewing also has its unfavorable effects.