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Updated: May 31, 2026
05:12
Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder
Published on: June 23, 2023
Tooth decay in alcohol and tobacco abusers
Thavarajah Rooban1, Km Vidya, Elizabeth Joshua
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, India.
Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology : JOMFP
|July 7, 2011
Summary
Alcohol and tobacco abuse significantly increase dental caries risk. While tobacco use elevates caries, attrition and extrinsic stains may offer some protection, suggesting complex oral health interactions.
Area of Science:
- Oral Health
- Dental Caries Research
- Substance Abuse Impact
Background:
- Alcohol and tobacco negatively affect oral health.
- Previous research focused on oral mucosa, leaving caries impact unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the independent and combined effects of alcohol and tobacco on dental caries.
- Compare caries experience between different substance abuse groups.
Main Methods:
- Compared 268 alcohol-only abusers with 2426 alcohol and tobacco abusers (chewing/smoking).
- Measured Decay, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) Index and Oral Hygiene Index - Simplified.
- Utilized descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and ANOVA.
Main Results:
- Mean DMFT varied across groups (3.31 to 4.09).
- No significant oral hygiene differences observed.
- Attrition and extrinsic stains showed a potential protective effect against caries.
Conclusions:
- Tobacco use in any form increases dental caries risk.
- Attrition and extrinsic stains may mitigate caries.
- Oral micro-flora changes due to alcohol and tobacco are critical in caries development.
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