Objective: Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has been associated with a number of negative health outcomes for exposed children. The goal of this study was to assess the association between ETS and dental caries in a pediatric population.
Methods: This study included 637 Iowa Fluoride Study children whose parents provided socioeconomic information, completed at least three questionnaires during the first year of life, and had a primary dentition exam at age 4-7 years. Households reporting in all questionnaires that someone smoked in the home were categorized as regularly smoking homes. Socioeconomic status (SES) was divided into three groups (low, middle, and high) based on family income and mother's education. Children were classified as having caries if any of the primary teeth had fillings or cavitated lesions at the primary dentition exam.
Results: Overall, children residing in regularly smoking homes had a higher prevalence of caries. For the middle SES group and overall, the children from smoking homes had a significantly higher prevalence of caries compared to nonregular/nonsmoking homes (52% vs 24%, P=.05 and 44% vs 25%, P=.002, respectively). After adjusting for age, SES, toothbrushing frequency, total ingested fluoride, and combined intake of soda pop and powdered drink beverages, the relationship of smoking and caries still remained significant (odds ratio [OR]=3.38; P=.001).
Conclusions: Environmental tobacco smoke was associated with an increased risk of caries among children.