title: [The influence of smoking on oral health].
abstract: Smoking is a serious risk factor for many diseases. The determining of smoking as a harmful habit among young people is very important. We examined 618 (mean age 21+/-2.9 years) young Lithuanian men. The findings of our research showed that 70% of young men smoked. The analysis of the research findings showed that smoking had a negative effect on oral hygiene. Young men who smoke daily had significantly higher oral hygiene index than those who do not smoke (Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S)=2.9(1.0) and OHI-S=2.2(1.2), respectively; p<0.001). Smoking is especially harmful to the periodontal tissues. The periodontal lesions were more prevalent and severe among young men who smoke. It is confirmed by the fact that smokers had significantly higher Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) than nonsmokers (CPITN=1.5(0.7) and CPITN=1.2(0.8), respectively; p<0.001). Our findings show that smoking increased the possibility of having decayed untreated teeth and this shows young men's careless attitude to their oral health. There was no difference in the prevalence of smoking among men who live in the countryside and those who live in the city. However, the men with poorer education smoked more frequently.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Dental and Oral Pathology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Eiveniu 2, 50009 Kaunas, Lithuania. edas@parabole.lt
authors.forename: Eduardas
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kelbauskas
authors.forename: Solveiga
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kelbauskiene
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nedzelskiene
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004493:Education; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000209:etiology