Second hand smoke increases risk of tooth decay in children: study

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Sugary treats and poor dental hygiene are not the only causes for tooth decay, according to a new study. The British Medical Journal's recently published research which reveals that the smoking habits of adults can also be a high risk factor.

In Kobe, Japan, almost 77,000 children born between the years 2004 and 2010 were included in the study. Those included in the study were examined at birth, when they turned 4, 9 and 18 months old and finally at 3 years of age.

Their mothers were asked to answer questionnaires regarding the child's exposure to tobacco smoke, diet and dental hygiene methods.

The study revealed that although there were no smokers in the family, four-month-old infants exposed to second hand smoke were twice as likely to have at least one tooth with cavities by the time the child turned three. Authors defined dental cavities (or caries, as referred to in the journal) as one tooth as decaying, missing or filled up, as assessed by dentists.

Interestingly enough, mothers who smoked during their pregnancies were not a factor in infants developing cavities.

Professor Koji Kawakami from Kyoto University's Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health led the researchers in conducting the study. According to Kawakami, four out of ten kids around the world are exposed to secondhand smoke.

In Kobe, 55 percent of smokers were in households that had children, says The Guardian. Most of the smokers were fathers.

As an observational study, the authors emphasize that the results may also be influenced by other factors that have not been measured in the study, Eurekalert reports.

The authors concluded their study by saying, "Exposure to secondhand smoke at 4 months of age, which is experienced by half of all children of that age in Kobe City, Japan, is associated with an increased risk of caries in deciduous teeth. Although these findings cannot establish causality, they support extending public health and clinical interventions to reduce secondhand smoke."

Dr. Jonathan Shenkin, a professor at Boston University tells US News that there is increased interest in studying the connection between passive smoking and tooth decay.

Shenkin states, "Like the population in this study, exposure to secondhand smoke continues to be a problem in the U.S., suggesting value in additional research."

Miami's Nicklaus Children's Hospital pediatric dental director Dr. Rosie Roldan believes that tobacco smoke may alter the biochemical makeup of saliva, affecting how this bodily fluid cleans the teeth. In a statement to US News, she states that inhalation of secondhand smoke also puts kids at risk for other ailments including breathing problems and heart disease.