Tobacco Products, Periodontal Health and Education Level: Cohort Study from Sweden

• Main Authors: Anna Julkunen-Iivari (Author), Anna Maria Heikkinen (Author), Ismo T. Räisänen (Author), Hellevi Ruokonen (Author), Jukka H. Meurman (Author), Sanna Toppila-Salmi (Author), Per-Östen Söder (Author), Birgitta Söder (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2020-08-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.3390/dj8030090; 2304-6767
• Keywords: epidemiology; oral health; periodontium; smokeless tobacco; smoking; Dentistry; RK1-715
• Source: Dentistry Journal, Vol 8, Iss 3, p 90 (2020)

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate if using tobacco products (including snuff, smoking tobacco and dual-using) associates with periodontal health, education level and mortality in a Swedish cohort, hypothesizing that tobacco products affect periodontal health, associate with lower education and increase the risk of death. Method: Study cohort of 1080 subjects aged 31-40 years (528 men, 552 women) was clinically examined and interviewed in 1985 and followed for mortality until 2015. Subjects were classified into two groups: "tobacco users" and "non-users". Associations between periodontal health parameters, tobacco products, education level and age of death were analysed. SPSS was used for analyses. Results: Tobacco products, as well as education level associated, with poor periodontal health. Tobacco users and lower education was linked to higher plaque-, calculus- and gingival-index scores than non-users (<i>p <</i> 0.001). They also had significantly higher prevalence of deep periodontal pockets (≥5 mm) (<i>p <</i> 0.001 and 0.010, respectively), missing teeth (<i>p =</i> 0.010 and 0.003, respectively) and lower education level (<i>p</i> < 0.001) compared with non-users. However, tobacco product users did not die significantly earlier than non-users. Conclusion: Tobacco products had a negative impact on periodontal health. Tobacco product users were less educated. However, using tobacco products may not cause premature death.