Impact of Cigarette Smoking on Salivary Proteomic Alterations: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Background: Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for various oral diseases and is known to alter the biological environment of the oral cavity. Saliva plays an essential role in maintaining oral homeostasis, and changes in its protein composition may reflect early molecular disturbances caused by tobacco exposure. Alterations in salivary proteins may contribute to impaired oral defense mechanisms and increased susceptibility to smoking-related oral diseases. Purpose: This literature review aims to evaluate the effects of cigarette smoking on the salivary proteome and to summarize the major categories of salivary protein alterations associated with smoking. Methods: Relevant studies published between 2019 and 2024 were obtained from major electronic databases and analyzed narratively to identify salivary proteomic changes associated with smoking. Result: The reviewed studies consistently demonstrated that cigarette smoking induces significant alterations in salivary proteins related to immune defense, oxidative stress regulation, inflammatory response, protease inhibition, and epithelial stress. Reduced levels of protective immune proteins and protease inhibitors, along with increased oxidative stress markers and inflammatory mediators, were commonly reported in smokers. Conclusion: Cigarette smoking disrupts the salivary proteome and may contribute to increased susceptibility to smoking-related oral diseases. Salivary proteomic analysis has potential as a non-invasive approach for understanding the biological impact of smoking on oral health.