Environmental smoke exposure associated with increased prevalence of dental caries in low-income children

Abstract

Dental caries are of serious concern as increasing numbers of cases of early childhood caries are seen. Oral hygiene and the development of dental caries is a challenging issue to address in any child. However, children in lower socioeconomic groups are disproportionately affected when compared with their higher-income peers. Low-income children are found to be twice as likely to have dental problems, with a reported prevalence of up to 50%. Several environmental factors have been found to play a role in this difference, including passive smoke exposure, lead exposure, and poor nutritional intake. While lead exposure and nutrition have been studied extensively, the association between passive smoke exposure and dental caries in children is less well known. This review will consider these environmental risk factors, focusing primarily on passive smoke exposure and its association with the development of dental caries. We will also propose potential strategies, on the basis of a comprehensive understanding of both existing published research and community-based interventions, as a means of addressing the health disparities that contribute so dramatically to this problem.