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Published on: February 12, 2015

Periodontal health in children exposed to passive smoking

Ebru Olgun Erdemir1, Işil Saroglu Sönmez, Aylin Akbay Oba

  • 1Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkey. olgun_ebru@yahoo.com

Journal of Clinical Periodontology
|January 1, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Children exposed to passive smoking show higher salivary cotinine levels and reduced clinical attachment level (CAL), indicating potential periodontal health impacts from secondhand smoke. This study highlights the effects of parental smoking on children's health.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Secondhand smoke exposure is a significant health concern for children.
  • Passive tobacco smoking (PTS) can lead to various adverse health outcomes.
  • The impact of PTS on children's periodontal health and cotinine levels requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To measure cotinine levels in saliva, urine, and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of children from smoking and non-smoking households.
  • To investigate the association between passive smoking exposure and the periodontal health of children.

Main Methods:

  • 109 children (6-12 years) were assessed, categorized into PTS-exposed (n=51) and PTS-unexposed (n=58) groups.
  • Periodontal parameters including plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing depth, and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded.
  • Cotinine levels in saliva, urine, and GCF were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Main Results:

  • Significantly elevated mean salivary cotinine concentrations were observed in PTS-exposed children compared to controls (p<0.05).
  • Salivary cotinine levels increased in a dose-dependent manner with parental smoking status.
  • Mean CAL was significantly lower in PTS-exposed children (0.09 mm; p<0.05) and in children with a smoking father, but not a smoking mother.

Conclusions:

  • Children exposed to passive smoking exhibit higher salivary cotinine levels.
  • Passive smoking exposure is associated with a reduction in clinical attachment level (CAL) in children.
  • These findings suggest a link between secondhand smoke exposure and compromised periodontal health in pediatric populations.
Abstract

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