Many Americans still smoke cigarettes in 2022. In fact, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) currently estimates that 14% of American adults are active cigarette smokers. This habit doesn't just affect them though. We believe that the youngest Americans can be affected through secondhand smoke too. Here's the truth about secondhand smoke and children's oral and overall health.
Your Smoking Habits Can Affect Your Child Even Before Birth
The United States Surgeon General's Report says there are over 400,000 babies born in the United States every year who are exposed to chemicals in cigarette smoke before birth. This is due to their parents' smoking habits. They also estimate that over the last 50 years, 100,000 babies have died from smoking-related issues, including prematurity, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), or other conditions caused by exposure to chemicals in secondhand smoke during infancy or before they were born. These studies have even shown an increase in the risk factor for the occurrence of facial clefts too. Parents can also pass these chemicals on to their children through secondhand smoke as well. This highlights why parents and expecting parents should be aware of their children's surroundings, even before they are born. Limiting exposure to cigarette smoke is best for children of all ages, even during pregnancy.
Secondhand Smoke Is Very Harmful To Children
According to the Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences secondhand smoking, also known as passive smoking, can negatively affect the health of non-smokers of all age groups. The group most vulnerable is our children. In fact, the US National Library of Medicine supports articles that show the association of passive smoking with life-threatening conditions such as lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases. There are correlations with low birth weight, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, increased incidence of tuberculosis, Crohn’s disease, learning disorders, high blood pressure, and child behavior disorders. All of which can be avoided by limiting a child's exposure to tobacco smoke.
Secondhand Smoke Can Deeply Affect A Child's Oral Health Too!
According to research done by the Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Ondokuz Mayis University, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is said to bring an individual in contact with over 4,000 chemical agents that adversely affect the oral health of those exposed. Their study showed a dose-dependent correlation exists between the number of cigarettes smoked by a smoker and the plasma and saliva cotinine levels (way of measuring nicotine presence) of their non-smoker companion. Secondhand smoke can also decrease alveolar bone density, cause severe periodontitis, implant failure, gingival pigmentation, primary and permanent tooth decay, tooth loss, and delay tooth development. These studies have even shown an increase in the risk factor for the occurrence of facial clefts too.
While we are fully aware of how addictive tobacco and nicotine use can be, avoiding these health risks is vital for both you and your child's oral and overall health. There are many options to help the loved ones in your life break this habit too! We are grateful for the resources to share with you on this topic and are passionate about ensuring oral and overall health for the next generation. If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to reach out to us!
