Passive Smoking Increases Risk of Dental Decay in Infants by Up To 50%
A new study has revealed that passive smoking increases the risk of dental decay in infants by up to 50%.
Researchers in Japan found that children who are exposed to secondhand smoke during infancy are more likely to develop dental health problems than children from non-smoking homes. The study suggested that smoking during pregnancy did not have an impact on the dental health of the baby.
The study, which was conducted in Kobe and involved 76,920 children, found that babies who were subjected to secondhand smoke at the age of 4 months were twice as likely to develop tooth decay by the age of 3 years old. In Kobe, 55% of households contain at least one smoker.
The authors of the study suggested that their findings indicated passive smoking increases the risk of decay, rather than causing cavities. They called for better education for parents about the effects of passive smoking and encouraged smokers who have young children to take this information on board.
The team from Kyoto University’s Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, lead by Professor Koji Kawakami, believes that passive smoking increases decay risk by reducing levels of sialic acid, which increases the risk of plaque formation.
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