Secondhand Smoke Can Damage Your Child’s Dental

It’s well known that tobacco use causes a host of health problems ranging from heart disease and diabetes to throat, lung, and oral cancer. However, secondhand smoke has also been linked to heart and lung problems. Young children are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. One scary statistic has shown that more than half of U.S. children live with a smoker.

Damage Done By Secondhand Smoke

Kids who live with smokers are at an increased risk of suffering from asthma, chronic ear infections, ADHD, and upper respiratory infections. A child’s dental health also isn’t safe from secondhand smoke. In addition to all of the previous problems, secondhand smoke has also been linked with dental cavities.

Dental cavities are the most chronic disease suffered by children ages 5-18. Exposure to secondhand smoke in a child as early as 4 months old can double the risk of dental cavities and tooth decay by the time the child reaches 3 years of age.

In addition to cavities, tooth decay, and the problems listed above, children exposed to secondhand smoke are also more likely to suffer from:

• Croup
• Bronchitis
• Meningitis
• Pneumonia
• Tonsillitis
• Childhood cancer, including leukemia

If you smoke, the best way to protect your child from secondhand smoke is to quit. For more information on improving and maintaining your family’s dental health, please call or visit Meadows Family Dental, general dentist in Castle Rock, CO!