Association between passive smoking and dental caries among 3-8 years children in Bangalore city

Abstract

Salivary antimicrobial peptides (AMP’s) play an important role in the local defense of oral cavity and expression of these are altered by various factors. Among them cigarette smoke has known to have detrimental effects on salivary immune defense mechanisms. The effect of passive smoking on salivary AMP’s and correlation to dental caries in children has not yet been reported. Thus, this study was aimed to assess the correlation between passive smoking and dental caries in exposed and unexposed children. A randomized cross-sectional study was designed to target children aged between 3 to 8 years. Self-reported questionnaire was filled by the parents of the participants to obtain the data. Questionnaires included in the study comprised sections related to demographic part and smoking characteristics. Participants were divided into passive exposed (PE) and unexposed (UE) group based on exposure parameters. Clinical examination and Salivary flow rate were assessed and the obtained data was subjected to statistical analysis. TPE group (5.58+/-4.66) than UE group (3.15+/-3.26) where (p=0.003)and under educated parents (p=0.02). Comparison of smoking related parameters to caries prevalence have shown direct positive correlation.[K1] [M2] The mean DMF scores were higher among children in [K3] [K4] [M5] E group (5.58+/-4.66) than UE group (3.15+/-3.26) where (p=0.003). Also it was seen that the DMF were higher in children who belonged to lower socio-economic status (p= 0.001) and under educated parents (p=0.02). Comparison of smoking related parameters to caries prevalence have shown direct positive correlation. Reduction of passive smoking is important not only for the prevention of various systemic ill-effects, but also for the promotion of children's dental health.