The association between dental caries and diet record in adolescents

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between dental caries and diet record among 18-year-old adolescents in Hong Kong SAR. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey nested in a population-based cohort study was conducted. A sample of 383 18-year-old adolescents in Hong Kong SAR was recruited. Decayed, missing, and filled permanent tooth/ teeth (DMFT) was recorded according to the WHO recommendations. A questionnaire on diet record which included the food intake frequency and quantity was completed by each subject. The relationship between DMFT and food intake frequency, DMFT and food intake quantity were examined by two sample t-test and χ2 test. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-three (60.8%) adolescents had caries experience (DMFT > 0). Adolescents who took sweets at least once a day had significant higher DMFT score (2.50 ± 2.48 (means ± SD)) than those who had lower intake frequency (1.88 ± 2.39, p = 0.027). Taking sweets at least once a day increased the prevalence of dental caries (DMFT>0) (p = 0.021). However, adolescents who took fat/oil at least once a day had significant lower DMFT score (1.83 ± 2.24) than the compared group (2.34 ± 2.62, p = 0.047). DMFT was not related with the intake frequency of grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, meat, fish and egg. There are no difference of the mean intake servings of grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, meat/fish/egg, fat/oil and sweets between the caries group (DMFT > 0) and caries-free group (DMFT =0). CONCLUSIONS: The caries experience was associated with sweets and fat/oil intake frequency among population-based sample of 18-year-old adolescents in Hong Kong SAR. However, DMFT was not related with other food intake frequency. In addition, the prevalence of dental caries was not associated with food intake quantity.