Association between smoking behavior and oral health problems: A national cross-sectional study in Korea

Introduction Smoking is a risk factor that significantly affects general and oral health by altering the oral environment, increasing plague build-up, and reducing blood flow in the gums, leading to tooth decay and periodontal disease. Therefore, this study investigated the association between smoki...

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Main Authors: Ju Yeon Lee, Chae Heon Song, Jaewoo Kim, Yun Seo Jang, Eun-Cheol Park
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: European Publishing 2025-03-01
Series:Tobacco Induced Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Association-between-smoking-behavior-and-oral-health-problems-A-national-cross-sectional,200693,0,2.html
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author Ju Yeon Lee
Chae Heon Song
Jaewoo Kim
Yun Seo Jang
Eun-Cheol Park
author_facet Ju Yeon Lee
Chae Heon Song
Jaewoo Kim
Yun Seo Jang
Eun-Cheol Park
author_sort Ju Yeon Lee
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Smoking is a risk factor that significantly affects general and oral health by altering the oral environment, increasing plague build-up, and reducing blood flow in the gums, leading to tooth decay and periodontal disease. Therefore, this study investigated the association between smoking behaviors, such as smoking duration and cessation, and oral health problems. Methods This study analyzed a secondary dataset of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019–2021) that included 6150 men and 7574 women. Individuals were classified as current smokers if they were currently smoking regular cigarettes, heated tobacco products, or electronic cigarettes. Oral health problems included toothaches and chewing difficulties. Multiple logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between smoking behavior and oral health problems. Results Among participants of both sexes, current smokers had more oral health problems compared with non-smokers (men, AOR=1.60; 95% CI: 1.35–1.89; women, AOR=1.91; 95% CI: 1.33–2.71), as did ex-smokers (men, AOR=1.39; 95% CI: 1.18–1.63; women, AOR=1.47; 95% CI: 1.18–1.83). The longer the smoking cessation period, the lower was the prevalence of oral health problems. Additionally, high pack-years were associated with oral health issues. Regular cigarettes were more likely to cause problems than e-cigarettes (men, AOR=1.56; 95% CI: 1.31–1.86; women, AOR=1.96; 95% CI: 1.53–2.52), while vaping (men, AOR=1.36; 95% CI: 1.05–1.74; women, AOR=1.64; 95% CI: 1.06–2.53) and dual smoking (men, AOR=1.57; 95% CI: 1.14–2.16; women, AOR=1.97; 95% CI: 1.10– 3.50) were also associated with oral health issues. Conclusions This study confirmed that smoking is strongly associated with oral health problems. Public health efforts should focus on prevention and tailored interventions to support quitting and improve oral health outcomes in both current and ex-smokers.
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher European Publishing
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series Tobacco Induced Diseases
spelling doaj-art-2f14d98bd7f9464d87f5cb43e0eeaffa2025-08-20T03:53:38ZengEuropean PublishingTobacco Induced Diseases1617-96252025-03-0123March11310.18332/tid/200693200693Association between smoking behavior and oral health problems: A national cross-sectional study in KoreaJu Yeon Lee0Chae Heon Song1Jaewoo Kim2Yun Seo Jang3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5088-5407Eun-Cheol Park4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2306-5398Medical Courses, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of KoreaPre-Medical Courses, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of KoreaMedical Courses, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of KoreaInstitute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaInstitute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaIntroduction Smoking is a risk factor that significantly affects general and oral health by altering the oral environment, increasing plague build-up, and reducing blood flow in the gums, leading to tooth decay and periodontal disease. Therefore, this study investigated the association between smoking behaviors, such as smoking duration and cessation, and oral health problems. Methods This study analyzed a secondary dataset of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019–2021) that included 6150 men and 7574 women. Individuals were classified as current smokers if they were currently smoking regular cigarettes, heated tobacco products, or electronic cigarettes. Oral health problems included toothaches and chewing difficulties. Multiple logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between smoking behavior and oral health problems. Results Among participants of both sexes, current smokers had more oral health problems compared with non-smokers (men, AOR=1.60; 95% CI: 1.35–1.89; women, AOR=1.91; 95% CI: 1.33–2.71), as did ex-smokers (men, AOR=1.39; 95% CI: 1.18–1.63; women, AOR=1.47; 95% CI: 1.18–1.83). The longer the smoking cessation period, the lower was the prevalence of oral health problems. Additionally, high pack-years were associated with oral health issues. Regular cigarettes were more likely to cause problems than e-cigarettes (men, AOR=1.56; 95% CI: 1.31–1.86; women, AOR=1.96; 95% CI: 1.53–2.52), while vaping (men, AOR=1.36; 95% CI: 1.05–1.74; women, AOR=1.64; 95% CI: 1.06–2.53) and dual smoking (men, AOR=1.57; 95% CI: 1.14–2.16; women, AOR=1.97; 95% CI: 1.10– 3.50) were also associated with oral health issues. Conclusions This study confirmed that smoking is strongly associated with oral health problems. Public health efforts should focus on prevention and tailored interventions to support quitting and improve oral health outcomes in both current and ex-smokers.https://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Association-between-smoking-behavior-and-oral-health-problems-A-national-cross-sectional,200693,0,2.htmlsmokingoral healthsmoking cessationelectric cigarettesmoking behavior
spellingShingle Ju Yeon Lee
Chae Heon Song
Jaewoo Kim
Yun Seo Jang
Eun-Cheol Park
Association between smoking behavior and oral health problems: A national cross-sectional study in Korea
Tobacco Induced Diseases
smoking
oral health
smoking cessation
electric cigarette
smoking behavior
title Association between smoking behavior and oral health problems: A national cross-sectional study in Korea
title_full Association between smoking behavior and oral health problems: A national cross-sectional study in Korea
title_fullStr Association between smoking behavior and oral health problems: A national cross-sectional study in Korea
title_full_unstemmed Association between smoking behavior and oral health problems: A national cross-sectional study in Korea
title_short Association between smoking behavior and oral health problems: A national cross-sectional study in Korea
title_sort association between smoking behavior and oral health problems a national cross sectional study in korea
topic smoking
oral health
smoking cessation
electric cigarette
smoking behavior
url https://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Association-between-smoking-behavior-and-oral-health-problems-A-national-cross-sectional,200693,0,2.html
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AT yunseojang associationbetweensmokingbehaviorandoralhealthproblemsanationalcrosssectionalstudyinkorea
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