Adolescent Knowledge about the Influence of Smoking on Periodontal Health- Value of Intervention.  A Pilot Survey.

Sammanfattning: Background:Smoking is a risk factor for periodontitis, and tobacco use among adults has remained unaltered at 25 % between 2007 to 2016. Dental personnel are important informers about health risks of smoking including the association between smoking and periodontitis. Aims and methods:A survey was conducted where three schools in Umeå, Sweden participated. 128 students were divided into a control and a test group. An intervention including a lecture about healthy oral conditions was given to the control group and a lecture about smoking and its association to periodontitis to the test group. Questionnaires about the students smoking habits and their knowledge about adverse effects of smoking were filled in by the students before and after the intervention. The aim of the study was to investigate if short information given by dental personnel could change the attitude to smoking and the knowledge about its correlation to periodontitis among adolescents.   Results:According to our study, 28/128 students (22 %) smoked at baseline. At follow up, the students in the test group demonstrated increased knowledge about the effects of smoking on periodontal health compared to the control group. Motivating factors to quit smoking were the aesthetical side effects of smoking and its association to periodontitis.    Conclusion:The study suggested that short information in school can alter the attitude toward smoking and may serve as a useful tool to prevent smoking in adolescents. Knowledge about adverse aesthetical and periodontal effects of smoking may be useful in smoking prevention.