SMOKING AND ORAL PATHOLOGIES IN 4 MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS IN MADAGASCAR

Abstract

This is an epidemiological study of the cross-sectional analytical type carried out on 926 subjects: military smokers and non-smokers with different socio-demographic characteristics. It was undertaken with the aim of describing the effects of tobacco on oral health.

In this study, over half the population were smokers (54.5%). They were all male (100%), predominantly in the 17-24 age group (35.2%), dominated by male troopers (60.5%). The majority of smokers had poor oral hygiene (46.5%). The most common oral pathologies in smokers were extrinsic tooth discoloration (59.6% in the anteroinferior region), gingivitis (22.5%), gingival recession (43.6% in the anteroinferior region), tooth mobility (12.6% in the anteroinferior region) and periodontitis (44.9). Pre-cancerous tumor lesions and oral cancers were more prevalent in smokers.

This study was corroborated by a number of earlier studies, most of which indicated that smoking has considerable adverse effects on oral tissues. The severity of the pathology depends on the duration of tobacco consumption and an individual's oral hygiene.

Tobacco alters oral hygiene, facilitating the onset of oral, periodontal and oral mucosal disease.