Association of smoking and snuffing with dental caries occurrence in a young male population in Finland: a cross-sectional study.
Study Goal
The researchers investigated whether frequent consumption of energy drinks was associated with restorative dental treatment need in a male cohort.
Results Summary
The study found that frequent consumption of energy drinks was significantly associated with higher restorative treatment need (dental caries), alongside other poor health behaviors like smoking and low tooth brushing frequency.
Population
Male conscripts born in the early 1990s in Finland (n=8537).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Cross-sectional (single assessment)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
smoking | increase | other harmful health behaviours | male cohort born in the early 1990s in Finland | - | was statistically significantly associated with | #1 |
frequent smoking | increase | restorative treatment need | male cohort born in the early 1990s in Finland | 2-fold (mean DT = 2.22 vs. 1.07) | more than 2-fold | #2 |
snuffing | increase | snacking | male cohort born in the early 1990s in Finland | - | reported more | #3 |
snuffing | increase | brushers | male cohort born in the early 1990s in Finland | - | were most frequent | #4 |
smoking | increase | restorative treatment need | male cohort born in the early 1990s in Finland | - | significantly associated with | #5 |
low tooth brushing frequency | increase | restorative treatment need | male cohort born in the early 1990s in Finland | - | significantly associated with | #6 |
eating sweets frequently | increase | restorative treatment need | male cohort born in the early 1990s in Finland | - | significantly associated with | #7 |
consuming energy drinks frequently | increase | restorative treatment need | male cohort born in the early 1990s in Finland | - | significantly associated with | #8 |
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of smoking and snuffing habits in association with dental caries occurrence in a male cohort born in the early 1990s in Finland. The impact of health behaviours and factors related to the place of residence were included in analyses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Oral health of 8537 conscripts was screened in a cross-sectional study. In the same occasion they also answered a questionnaire covering their smoking and snuffing habits and other background factors. The residence-related factors were obtained from the Defence Forces' database. Cross-tabulation together with chi-squared test and generalized linear mixed models were used for analyses. RESULTS: Almost forty per cent (39.4%) of the men reported smoking daily and 9.0% reported daily snuffing. Restorative treatment need of those who reported frequent smoking was more than 2-fold (mean DT = 2.22) compared to the non-smokers (mean DT = 1.07). Smoking was statistically significantly associated with other harmful health behaviours. The snuffers reported more snacking than the non-smokers, but were most frequent brushers. The result from the statistical modelling showed that smoking, low tooth brushing frequency, eating sweets and consuming energy drinks frequently were significantly associated with restorative treatment need. CONCLUSION: In this cross-sectional study, association between smoking and dental caries was distinct. The high rate of restorative treatment need among smokers may be explained by their poor health behaviours. Dietary habits of the snuffers seem harmful too, but are compensated by good tooth brushing frequency.