Investigating the association between tobacco use and oral health among security guards at a tertiary healthcare centre in New Delhi: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Tobacco usage is a major global public health concern, contributing to millions of deaths annually. This study focuses on security guards, an occupational group facing unique challenges, to investigate tobacco prevalence, usage patterns, and associated oral health risks. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among security guards at a Tertiary Health Care Centre, from October 2022 to February 2023. Data on demographics, tobacco habits, and comorbidities were collected via a structured questionnaire. Clinical oral examinations provisionally diagnosed Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMDs) based on clinical findings. Appropriate Statistical analyses were employed. Results: Among 696 security guards, 40.1% used tobacco, including 15.0% smokers and 74.5% engaging in smokeless tobacco. Additionally, 10.3% reported using both smoking and smokeless forms. Non-tobacco users accounted for 59.9%. Tobacco users showed a higher prevalence of OPMDs (11.4%) compared to non-tobacco users (1.4%). Discussion: Security guards demonstrated a higher tobacco prevalence, with smokeless tobacco being predominant. Gender disparities in tobacco use emphasize the need for gender-specific interventions. The study highlights the significant impact of tobacco on oral health, especially the risk of OPMDs. Conclusion: A high prevalence of tobacco usage (40.1%), particularly smokeless tobacco, among security guards, emphasizes the importance of targeted interventions within this occupational group. Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMDs) were significantly more prevalent (11.4%) in tobacco users. The association between tobacco usage and OPMDs reaffirms the well-established association between tobacco and adverse oral health outcomes.

Inhibition of Streptococcus mutans, antioxidant property and cytotoxicity of novel nano-zinc oxide varnish.

OBJECTIVE: Zinc is a potent antimicrobial against cariogenic bacteria and effective anti-plaque agent. The present study investigated the efficacy of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NP) varnish to inhibit S. mutans growth, biofilm, acid production, and its antioxidant potential and cytotoxicity. DESIGN: Green synthesized ZnO-NP were characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Secondary metabolites were assessed using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Anti-oxidant potential was ascertained using 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DDPH) assay and cytotoxicity of synthesized nanoparticles was evaluated on human liver cancer (Hep G2) and human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK-293T) cell lines. RESULTS: Synthesized ZnO-NP showed excellent antimicrobial properties against S. mutans, as the minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations were 0.53 µg/mL, and 1.3 µg/mL respectively. ZnO-NP at 0.1 mg/µl concentration had the greatest zone of inhibition (24 mm), followed by 0.05 mg/µl ZnO-NP (23 mm) and 0.05 mg/µl ampicillin (21 mm). Further, 0.1 mg/µl ZnO-NP varnish inhibited 90 % of S. mutans biofilms and reduced 24 h acid production closest to that of baseline and it also exhibited antioxidant capacity in a dose dependent manner (94 % inhibition-100 µg/mL). Biocompatibility of ZnO-NP varnish was evaluated on Hep G2 and HEK-293T cell lines; and the highest concentration of 0.1 mg/µl ZnO-NP used caused very low cytotoxicity to Hep G2 cells and was non-cytotoxic to HEK-293T cells. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, ZnO-NP varnish was effective in inhibiting S. mutans and holds great potential as an effective anticaries agent.