Role of Tobacco in Oral Health of Factory Workers

Abstract

Background: Oral health is considered most important part of the general health and one of the valuable assets of all individuals. Use of tobacco and its relation with oral illnesses is a leading contributor to burden of global oral disease because it is linked with almost half of all kinds of periodontal disease. Aim: To assess the role of tobacco in oral health of factory workers and various factors affecting the oral health with tobacco use among workers. Method: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study performed during February, 2017 among 220 factory workers of Colony Textile Mills Ismailabad, Sher Shah Road, Multan. Data was collected through questionnaire, which was entered in to computer software SPSS version 20.0. Results: Out of 220 workers, 45.9% were 31-40 years old and 60% were illiterate. Among the workers, cigarette was used by 62.3% workers, pan 33.2%, betel quid 7.7%, Gutka 12.3% and Hooka by 17.3% workers. There were 88.2% workers who had smell in the mouth, 29.1% bleeding gums, 98.6% staining on teeth, 82.3% brown pigmentation and 95% had dryness of mouth. Among these factory workers, only 0.5% had good oral status, 77.7% average and 21.8% had poor hygiene. Conclusion: Study concluded that most of the workers were cigarette smokers and brushed their teeth daily. Majority had bleeding gums, smell from mouth, brown pigmentation, staining on teeth and dryness of mouth while a few of them had calculus deposits and gingivitis. Majority had average/good health.