title: Association of smoking and snuffing with dental caries occurrence in a young male population in Finland: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of smoking and snuffing habits in association with dental caries occurrence in a male cohort born in the early 1990s in Finland. The impact of health behaviours and factors related to the place of residence were included in analyses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oral health of 8537 conscripts was screened in a cross-sectional study. In the same occasion they also answered a questionnaire covering their smoking and snuffing habits and other background factors. The residence-related factors were obtained from the Defence Forces' database. Cross-tabulation together with chi-squared test and generalized linear mixed models were used for analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost forty per cent (39.4%) of the men reported smoking daily and 9.0% reported daily snuffing. Restorative treatment need of those who reported frequent smoking was more than 2-fold (mean DT = 2.22) compared to the non-smokers (mean DT = 1.07). Smoking was statistically significantly associated with other harmful health behaviours. The snuffers reported more snacking than the non-smokers, but were most frequent brushers. The result from the statistical modelling showed that smoking, low tooth brushing frequency, eating sweets and consuming energy drinks frequently were significantly associated with restorative treatment need.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this cross-sectional study, association between smoking and dental caries was distinct. The high rate of restorative treatment need among smokers may be explained by their poor health behaviours. Dietary habits of the snuffers seem harmful too, but are compensated by good tooth brushing frequency.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Tarja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kämppi
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Päkkilä
authors.forename: Marjo-Riitta
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Järvelin
authors.forename: Pertti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patinen
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tjäderhane
authors.forename: Vuokko
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Anttonen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D061215:Energy Drinks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D062410:Snacks; D064424:Tobacco Use / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: dental caries; smoking; snuffing; young adults