Smoking among young people: prevalence and perceptions of the impact on oral health

Smoking, with its origins in the USA, has evolved over the centuries, driven by social and cultural factors. Despite growing awareness about the harms of conventional cigarettes over time, resulting in changes in social attitudes and the search for healthier alternatives, the resurgence of smoking products such as electronic cigarettes challenges regulations. The ban in Brazil since 2009 has not prevented the presence of these devices in the lives of young people, as indicated by the National School Health Survey. Alarming data from the World Health Organization on smoking among children and young people highlights the centrality of nicotine in dependence, with significant impacts, especially on oral diseases. The study, conducted with vulnerable young people cared for by Associação Guarda Mirim de Londrina, aimed to examine the prevalence of smoking and young people’s perceptions regarding this practice and its connection with oral health. The research adopted a sampling technique based on simple probabilistic analyses, involving statistical tests to compare questionnaires applied before and after an educational lecture. The studied population comprised 86 interviewees aged 12 to 20 years. The prevalence of young smokers was 30.3%. A significant change was noticed in young people’s understanding of smoking before and after the educational lecture. The conclusion highlights the effectiveness of health promotion actions, showing a transformation in young people’s perceptions after the educational intervention.