New ban on smoking in cars ‘will aid children’s oral health’

Children's oral health will benefit from the new ban on smoking in vehicles carrying passengers under the age of 18, according to a dental health charity.

The British Dental Health Foundation has welcomed the introduction of the ban on October 1st, saying it will have a substantial positive impact on tooth decay risk and oral health development problems.

Under the new law, both the driver of the vehicle and the person who is smoking can be issued with an on-the-spot fine of 50 pounds if they are caught.

Research has shown that a single cigarette smoked in a car with closed windows produces 11 times higher levels of secondhand smoke than in an average bar where smoking is permitted, posing a substantial health risk to passengers, and children in particular.

A recent YouGov poll found that 77 percent of British adults agree that smoking should be banned in cars carrying children, including 63 percent of smokers.

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said: "We have already seen from the 2007 smoking ban that moves such as this can help to save lives and that the majority of public voices agree with these types of measures."