Friday, January 31, 2014

Secondhand Smoke May Cause Kids' Cavities

New research suggests secondhand smoke could play a causal role in kids' cavities.



The review, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, included 15 studies published between 1990 and 2010, and showed a "possible causal relationship between SHS [secondhand smoke] and caries in the primary dentition." (Caries is the term for cavities or tooth decay, and primary detention is another term for baby teeth.) The findings held true even after taking into account other potential factors, such as the children's socioeconomic status.



However, the evidence was "insufficient" to demonstrate a similar causal relationship between secondhand smoke and cavities in permanent teeth.



But how could secondhand smoke affect risk for cavities? A commentary published within the study explored some potential avenues:



Proposed mechanisms linking exposure to SHS with caries risk include influencing oral microbiota; influencing the mineralization of developing dentition; increasing environmental cadmium levels; decreasing vitamin C levels; decreasing immune function; decreasing the production and effectiveness of saliva by affecting the development and function of salivary glands; and by causing nasal congestion, which could increase mouth breathing.





Smoking is already known to lead to or increase risk of certain dental problems in actual smokers, including increased tooth plaque and tartar, tooth discoloration, gum disease, bone loss, delayed healing, and even oral cancer.



from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1cFm3n8

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