Yang Y, Zheng W, Cai QY, et al. - In an extensive populace including predominately low-income and African-American participants, researchers examined the link between cigarette smoking and oral microbiota. From 1,616 participants within the Southern Community Cohort Study, they obtained mouth rinse samples. This study involved 592 current-smokers, 477 former-smokers and 547 never-smokers. A different overall microbial composition was observed in current-smokers vs former-smokers and never-smokers. Among current-smokers vs never-smokers, the enrichment of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus was seen. Enrichment of the phylum Actinobacteria was also noted in current-smokers vs never-smokers. Among both African-Americans and European-Americans, they identified variations in the overall microbial composition and abundance/prevalence of most taxa. Overall, experts concluded a strong influence of smoking on oral microbial community, which was recovered following smoking discontinuation.