Periodontal Health Status Among Cigarette Smokers and Nonsmokers in Chitwan District, Nepal: A Comparative Cross‐Sectional Study

TL;DR

This study compares periodontal health between cigarette smokers and nonsmokers in Nepal, finding that smoking worsens gum health with greater damage in heavy smokers.

Contribution

The study demonstrates a dose-response relationship between smoking intensity and periodontal health deterioration.

Findings

Smokers had deeper periodontal pockets and more clinical attachment loss than nonsmokers.

Heavy smokers showed the most severe periodontal damage compared to moderate and light smokers.

Cumulative smoking exposure was significantly correlated with worsening periodontal health.

Abstract

Cigarette smoking significantly affects an individual′s periodontal health.

This study was aimed at evaluating and comparing the periodontal health status between smokers and nonsmokers.

A comparative cross‐sectional study was conducted with a total of 422 participants, 211 smokers and 211 nonsmokers, aged 15–74 years, selected through convenience sampling. Based on smoking intensity, smokers were also classified as light, moderate, or heavy smokers. Periodontal condition was evaluated based on the plaque index (PLI), simplified oral hygiene index (OHI‐S), and Community Periodontal Index. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 27. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods included the Chi‐square test, Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and post hoc analysis.

The results revealed that smokers exhibited poorer periodontal conditions, marked by deeper periodontal pockets and increased clinical attachment loss compared to nonsmokers. Furthermore, the data revealed that heavy smokers experienced greater periodontal damage, followed by those who smoked moderately and lightly.

The extent of cumulative smoking exposure and the deterioration of periodontal health were found to be significantly dose–response correlated.

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