Original Article

Effects of the amount and duration of smoking on gingival symptoms: analysis of data from the 2016 Korea youth's risk behavior web-based study

Mi-Ra Lee   Kyung-Hwa Park1,*   

Department of Dental Hygiene, Kyungwoon University
1Department of Dental Hygiene, Kyungbok University

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of the amount and duration of smoking on gingival symptoms in adolescents. Methods: We used the web-based survey data of youth health behaviors from 2016 conducted by the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The subjects of the study were 67,983 middle and high school students. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS Ver 20.0 program, and complex sample multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze gingival symptoms according to short- or long-term smoking habits. Results: In subjects with short-term smoking habits, there was no significant difference in gingival symptoms according to the smoking amount. However, after adjusting for socioeconomic characteristics and oral health behaviors in subjects with long-term smoking habits, a heavy smoking amount (≥0.52 PY) had a 1.25 times higher effect than a light smoking amount (<0.52 PY) on gingival symptoms. Long-term heavy smoking (≥0.52 PY) and low daily tooth-brushing frequency in high school students were factors affecting gingival symptoms. Conclusions: When conducting a project on the oral health of adolescents, it is argued that specific investigations and measures should be set up regarding health behavior factors, such as the amount and duration of smoking among adolescents.

Figures & Tables

Table 1. Smoking according to characteristics of subjects Unit: N(%)