Exposure to secondhand smoke could make children susceptible to cavities. However, more research is needed to call it a risk factor. One way would be to look for exposure to nicotine in the blood of young children, suggests a Tufts dentist.
Researchers reviewed 15 studies about the relationship between secondhand smoke and the development of caries in young children. It joins in a list of known risk factors such as poor or infrequent oral hygiene. The list helps alert dentists to young patients who may need additional preventive care. Researchers say that counseling is needed by dentists on this matter.
Source: Medical Xpress