Secondhand Smoke May Be Bad for Gums

By AliciaMarie Belchak
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Exposure to secondhand smoke may increase the risk of gum disease, study results suggest.

Nonsmokers inhaling environmental tobacco smoke at work or home increased their chances of developing periodontal disease about 1.5 times, according to researchers from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill.

``Even though this increase in risk is much smaller than the increase in risk associated with active cigarette smoking (which is up to 5 times greater), environmental tobacco smoke could account for many cases of periodontal disease nationwide,'' according to lead author Dr. Samuel J. Arbes, Jr. The study, published in the February issue of the American Journal of Public Health, journal of the American Public Health Association (news - web sites), is the first of its kind to look seriously at the associations between secondhand smoke and gum disease, Arbes said. He and his colleagues analyzed data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 1988 to 1994. The investigators focused on 6,611 nonsmokers with gum disease. Almost one third of the respondents claimed they were exposed to tobacco smoke at home or at work 1 hour or more each day.

The researchers also inspected the health of the study participants' gums, looking for separation of the gum from the tooth, which can indicate gum disease. Although periodontal disease can include several diseases--such as gingivitis and periodontitis--the researchers looked specifically for the more severe form, periodontitis, which destroys the soft tissues and bone that support teeth. Ultimately, the disease can lead to tooth loss if left untreated, Arbes noted.

``We found that among adults in the United States who had never smoked cigarettes, 11% of those exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in their homes or at work had periodontal disease,'' he told Reuters Health.

The results indicate an association between secondhand smoke and the gum destroying disease may exist, although Arbes emphasized the still-early nature of the research. ``This study does not prove that environmental tobacco smoke causes periodontal disease,'' Arbes cautioned. ``Because information on environmental tobacco smoke exposure and periodontal disease were collected on the study subjects at the same point in time, we have no way of knowing which came first--the (smoke) exposure or the gum disease.''

Nevertheless, Arbes advises avoiding cigarette smoke--whether actively smoking or passively inhaling--and staying on top of dental hygiene.

``Periodontal disease is treatable, but it is best to catch it early,'' he said.

SOURCE: American Journal of Public Health 2001;91:253-257.

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