A Brazilian study revealed that exposure to secondhand smoke leads to a disruption in tooth enamel mineralization, with a decrease in phosphorus and an increase in carbon content in the tooth enamel of young rats exposed to smoke.
Brazilian scientists have indicated that exposure to secondhand smoke during the first days of a rat's life may have a subtle effect on tooth enamel formation. To reach this conclusion, the researchers used two groups of rats: one group was exposed to cigarette smoke, while the other served as a control group.
The experiment involved introducing cigarette smoke into a special chamber twice a day, for five minutes initially, then gradually increasing the duration of exposure.
The results showed that the rat pups exposed to smoke gained less weight compared to the control group. Although their teeth appeared no different from those of the non-smoked rats, closer examination revealed microscopic changes, including a higher carbon content in the enamel and a lower phosphorus level, a key element that gives teeth their strength. Researchers also observed an increase in the spaces between the microscopic structures of the enamel.
Scientists explained that tooth enamel can be considered a "biological archive" because it is formed over a specific period and then remains largely stable, allowing its chemical composition to be used to assess the effects of early exposures the body has undergone.
Researchers believe that cigarette smoke may primarily affect the mineralization stage, that is, the process of tooth enamel maturation and the integration of minerals within it, which is the stage that gives it its strength and resistance.
Scientists stressed that these findings cannot be directly generalized to humans at the moment, but they may help in understanding the causes of some enamel defects in children, such as demineralization, which makes teeth more fragile and prone to decay.
