Association Between Environmental Tobacco Smoke Inhalation and Dental Caries in Adolescents

Abstract

Dental caries is a chronic, multifactorial, infectious disease, highly prevalent in children and adolescents in developed countries. The role of secondhand smoke (SHS) as a risk factor in the etiology of caries has recently been highlighted. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between SHS exposure and the frequency of caries in children aged 10 to 15 years treated at the Dentistry Unit of Health Department 9 in the Valencian Community. A cross-sectional descriptive study was designed with a random sample of 380 subjects. Clinical examinations were performed following ICDAS II criteria, and a questionnaire on tobacco exposure was administered. The results showed that 55.3% lived with smokers at home, and 81.1% had some regular contact with SHS. Children who lived with smokers had significantly higher caries indices in both primary (DMFT = 0.27 ± 0.78 vs. 0.10 ± 0.47; p = 0.039) and permanent (DMFT = 1.62 ± 2.21 vs. 0.92 ± 1.40; p < 0.001) dentition. Overall caries experience was 1.90 ± 2.34 vs. 1.03 ± 1.46 (p < 0.001). The association was more pronounced when the mother was a smoker. No significant differences were found in caries indices when exposure occurred only outside the home. Children who smoked and those with smoking friends showed higher DMFT values ​​and their components. No relationship was found between exposure to high-risk pregnancies and plaque or gingival indices. It is concluded that there is a statistically significant association between the presence of caries and habitual contact with tobacco smoke, both in primary and permanent dentition, which suggests the need to include information on the effects of tobacco in preventive oral health programs aimed at children and adolescents.