"A significant step"

The British Dental Health Foundation has previously highlighted how passive smoking puts children at higher risk from tooth decay and problems with their oral health development.

The charity believes this move will have a hugely positive effect in protecting children and young people to the extreme dangers of inhaling second hand smoke.

Chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Nigel Carter OBE, discussed what effects this move will have. Nigel said: “Within a confined environment, such as a car, children are exposed to higher concentration of harmful chemicals if somebody is smoking.

“Research has shown that a single cigarette smoked in a car with closed windows produces 11 times higher levels of second hand smoke than in an average bar where smoking is permitted. This is extremely dangerous to anyone within that car, especially children whose dental health is still developing.

“Everybody is aware of the dangers of smoking to our health but often overlook the effects on our mouths, gums and teeth. Second hand smoke can lead to gum disease, tooth loss, and in more severe cases mouth cancer.