Does Secondhand Smoke Affect the Development of Dental Caries in Children? A Systematic Review

Abstract

This review evaluated evidence of the relationship between secondhand smoke (SHS) and dental caries in children in epidemiological studies. Relevant literature was searched and screened, and the methodological quality was assessed. The search yielded 42 citations. High-quality studies including one cohort format and 14 case-control format studies were selected. Early childhood caries was examined in 11 studies. The independent association of SHS was significant in 10 studies, and the strength was mostly weak to moderate. One study did not select SHS as a significant variable. Three studies reported decreases in the risk of previous exposure, and the association was not significant. Dose-response relationships were evident in five studies. Permanent teeth were examined in seven studies. Five studies reported significant associations, which were mostly weak. The risk of previous exposure remained similar to that of current exposure, and a dose-response relationship was not evident in one study. The overall evidence for the causal association in early childhood caries is possible regarding epidemiological studies, and the evidence of permanent teeth and the effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy were insufficient. The results warrant further studies of deciduous teeth using a cohort format and basic studies regarding the underlying mechanism.

Dental markers of poverty: Biocultural deliberations on oral health of the poor in mid‐nineteenth‐century Ireland

“…Clinical studies have shown a positive correlation between smoking and periodontal disease (Bergstrom, 2014; Borojevic, 2012; Smejkalova et al, 2012) and caries rates (Aguilar‐Zinser et al, 2007; Voelker et al, 2013), although these links are also considered to be inconclusive (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014). Additional lifestyle factors that are often socioeconomic in nature, including different eating habits and oral hygiene maintenance, have also been shown to differ substantially between smokers (including secondhand smoking) and nonsmokers (Benedetti, Campus, Strohmenger, & Lingström, 2013; Hanioka, Ojima, Tanaka, & Yamamoto, 2011; Smejkalova et al, 2012). The pattern of tooth decay in smokers is influenced by the increased risk of periodontal disease and caries is more frequently observed at, and below, the gingival junction of the teeth (Bharateesh & Kokila, 2014; Rad, Kakoie, Brojeni, & Pourdamghan, 2010; Soetiarto, 1999).…”

Association between unmet dental needs and school absenteeism because of illness or injury among U.S. school children and adolescents aged 6–17years, 2011–2012

“…Secondhand smoke exposure has been associated with impaired cognitive ability in children (Chen et al, 2013;US DHHS, 2006) as well as a plethora of other conditions that could contribute to in-creased lost school days, such as middle ear infections, wheezing, coughing, bronchitis, pneumonia, slow lung development, as well as dental caries (Hanioka et al, 2011;Levy et al, 2011;Slayton, 2012;Tanaka et al, 2009;US DHHS, 2006, 2014a, 2014b, 2014c, 2014d. Living with a smoker might also be a proxy for low socio-economic status since smoking prevalence rates are disproportionately higher among persons of low education or low annual household incomes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012).…”

Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke in Babies

“…A possible effect of second hand smoke on the development of dental caries in children is not clearly established; a recently published scientific revision has failed to demonstrate a potential association of second hand smoke with caries, maybe due to the heterogeneity of the studies included (Hanioka et al, 2011).…”