The association between environmental tobacco smoke and primary tooth caries.
OBJECTIVE
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has been associated with a number of negative health outcomes for exposed children. The goal of this study was to assess the association between ETS and dental caries in a pediatric population.


METHODS
This study included 637 Iowa Fluoride Study children whose parents provided socioeconomic information, completed at least three questionnaires during the first year of life, and had a primary dentition exam at age 4-7 years. Households reporting in all questionnaires that someone smoked in the home were categorized as regularly smoking homes. Socioeconomic status (SES) was divided into three groups (low, middle, and high) based on family income and mother's education. Children were classified as having caries if any of the primary teeth had fillings or cavitated lesions at the primary dentition exam.


RESULTS
Overall, children residing in regularly smoking homes had a higher prevalence of caries. For the middle SES group and overall, the children from smoking homes had a significantly higher prevalence of caries compared to nonregular/nonsmoking homes (52% vs 24%, P=.05 and 44% vs 25%, P=.002, respectively). After adjusting for age, SES, toothbrushing frequency, total ingested fluoride, and combined intake of soda pop and powdered drink beverages, the relationship of smoking and caries still remained significant (odds ratio [OR]=3.38; P=.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Environmental tobacco smoke was associated with an increased risk of caries among children.
Shenkin
Jonathan D
JD
Boston University School of Dental Medicine, USA. jshenkin@aol.com
Broffitt
Barbara
B
Levy
Steven M
SM
Warren
John J
JJ
D000367:Age Factors; D002253:Carbonated Beverages; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education; D012923:Social Class; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology*; D014099:Toothbrushing
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D005459:Fluorides