Thirdhand Smoke Exposure and Child Dental Health

There are a lot of ways that tobacco exposure can impact the health of children. A recent study shows the negative impact of thirdhand smoke exposure on children’s dental health.

Anyone who has ever cared for a young child knows how often they need reminders to brush their teeth. But there is more to good dental health in children than just brushing.
In a recent study by Dr. Mahabee-Gittens and colleagues, they analyzed the connection between tobacco smoke exposure and dental health among children in the United States. The study found that tobacco smoke exposure can contribute to oral health complications. The authors used data from the National Survey on Children’s Health to compare cavities and tooth decay in three different tobacco smoke exposure groups: (1) not exposed (i.e., did not live with anyone who smoked); (2) exposed to both second- and thirdhand smoke (i.e., lived with someone who smoked inside the home), and (3) exposed to thirdhand smoke only (i.e., lived with someone who smoked outside the home—did not smoke inside).
The researchers found that children exposed to thirdhand smoke only and children exposed to both second- and thirdhand smoke were more likely to have poor current teeth condition than children who were not exposed to either second- and thirdhand smoke. After careful examination of the data, the researchers found that: Children exposed to second- and thirdhand smoke were more likely to have inadequate oral healthcare visits and more frequent dental issues than children not exposed to tobacco smoke. These findings are important to show the association of second- and thirdhand smoke exposure with child dental health issues.
In a post-publication interview, Dr. Mahabee-Gittens mentioned how easily a few-minute screening of child exposure to tobacco smoke could be implemented in dental practices. However, screening children for tobacco exposure is just the first step; the next step is to decrease or eliminate the child’s exposure all together. Additionally, she emphasized that adults who smoke need access to educational and practical resources to help with smoking cessation. We believe that screening and education should be part of every oral health care visit and access to smoking cessation is key. Smoking cessation support is available at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

Click Here To Read The Research Study

For full access to the research study, please contact the author.

More Must Read Stories

Thirdhand Smoke Residue Found On Non-Smokers After Short Visit To An Internet Cafe

A new study led by Dr. Myung-Bae Park from Pai Chai University in Korea found that visitors can be exposed to thirdhand smoke even

Carpets Retain a Stubborn Grip on Pollutants from Tobacco Smoke

A new study from thirdhand smoke researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory shows that thirdhand smoke chemicals that settle into surfaces do not stay there, but re-enter the air, sometimes transforming into new types of contaminants. In this study, the researchers evaluated the effects of ozonation, a common cleaning method, on smoke-exposed carpet.

Does Thirdhand Smoke Make You Sick? The German Newspaper Die Zeit Investigates.

As Germany plans to ban smoking in cars with children or pregnant women, the German newspaper, Die Zeit, asked experts to weigh in on the forthcoming policy. The experts concluded that this policy does not go far enough and advised caution, especially for children, due to long-term risks posed by thirdhand smoke exposure (known as cold smoke exposure in Germany). Read the full story to answer the question, “Does Cold Smoke Make You Sick?”

Current Smokefree Policies Don’t Protect Us from Thirdhand Smoke–But They Could

Public health policies implemented since the 1970s have increasingly aligned with scientific evidence linking secondhand smoke exposure to significant health risks in nonsmokers. These policies have resulted in the adoption of laws that prohibit indoor smoking in various settings such as indoor workplaces, public transportation, government buildings, hospitals, schools, restaurants, and bars. These measures have been instrumental in protecting public health, saving lives, and reducing healthcare spending by billions of dollars.

Thirdhand Smoke Harms Health Around the World

Thirdhand smoke has increasingly become a global concern. Recently, three independent research studies conducted in Turkey surveyed participants about the topic of thirdhand smoke. Each of these studies adds to the mounting body of evidence that thirdhand smoke is a prevalent issue around the world and requires widespread policy and educational action to address.