Pipe smoking and oral health in males from The Netherlands during the 18th–19th century

Abstract

SUMMARY: The impact of tobacco on health is undeniable. It is a significant risk factor for multiple conditions, including oral diseases. There has been little research on pipe smoking and oral disease in the past. We compare caries, calculus, tooth loss, periapical lesions, and periodontal disease between rural 13th–16th century pre-tobacco males from Klaaskinderkerke and 18th–19th century pipe-using males from Beemster (N = 64). Pipe-smokers were more affected by all pathologies. Pipe smoking was a strongly gendered habit and possibly more common in the countryside. This work demonstrates a need to consider the impact of new imported behaviours on health in the past.