Globally, it is estimated that the tobacco epidemic results in the death of over 8 million people yearly, and exposure of non-smokers to secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) is responsible for about 1.2 million of these deaths.1 Non-smokers’ exposure to SHS is a public health problem globally;2,3 and dentists have the unique opportunity to contribute to solving this problem by identifying and assisting those affected during their dental consultations.4 The dentist’s role in tobacco cessation among smokers has been emphasized and widely advocated.5 Considering that non-smokers’ exposure to SHS causes similar health effects as smoking,4 dentists should also identify and assist this group of people.
Secondhand smoke exposure (SHS) is also referred to as environmental tobacco smoke exposure, secondhand smoking, involuntary smoking, and passive smoking.6 It occurs when a person inhales smoke from the burning end of a tobacco product (side-stream smoke) and the smoke exhaled by an active smoker (mainstream smoke).7 Thus, a passive smoker is exposed to the same tobacco smoke as the active smoker.7 Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, and over 40 are carcinogenic.8 These chemicals include tobacco-specific nitrosamines (N- nitrosamines), carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde, and ammonia.8 These chemicals cause similar health problems to both active and passive smokers.8