Association of Passive Smoking with Dental Caries and Cotinine Biomarker among 8 to 12-Year-Old Children

The present study was designed to determine association passive smoking with dental caries and cotinine biomarker among 8-12 years old children of Semnan, Iran. This cross sectional study was concocted on two groups of 8-12 years old children exposed (n=100) and non-exposed to passive smoking (n=100) in of Semnan (Iran). The sampling method was two-stage cluster sampling design. The data collection tool a standard checklist consisted of demographic, laboratory and dental characteristics. Examination was performed by a dentist on a dental unit and the dental indicators were measured for two groups. Also, salivary cotinine was measured and recorded using ELISA method by special cotinine kit (De salimetrics medi tec, USA). Univariate and Multivariable Logistic Regression model and area under the ROC curve were used to data analysis by STATA 14 software. Univariate logistic regression model showed a statistically significant difference between the exposed and unexposed groups with passive smoking in term of the salivary cotinine level, age , sex , decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) index, decayed, and filled teeth (dft) index and missing teeth (mt) (P-Value ≤0.20). However, multiple logistic regression model showed a statistically significant relationship between the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) index and passive smoking (OR=1.28; 95% CI: 1.05 – 1.38). This study showed that the risk of decay of deciduous teeth is higher in children exposed to passive smoking, therefore, passive smoking should be considered in the implementation of programs to prevent tooth decay in children.