The effect of smoking on amylase enzyme activity in saliva

Smoking has become a common habit in Indonesia. If done regularly, smoking is known to cause problems in the oral cavity. When smoking, cigarette smoke will enter the oral cavity and affect the activity of the salivary amylase enzyme. The journal search used in this review was conducted on several databases, such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google with a range of years between 2013 and 2023. A total of 14 studies from various global populations were included in this review. Thirteen studies showed an association between smoking and alpha-amylase enzyme activity, while one study did not show an association between smoking and amylase enzyme. Of the 13 studies that showed an association, ten studies showed a negative association, while the remaining three studies showed a positive association. The effect of cigarettes on amylase activity in saliva may arise due to several factors, including the toxic effects of cigarettes on the salivary glands, mechanical and chemical stimulation of cigarettes on the mucosa, smoking period, oxidative stress index, and salivary pH.