Obesity, dietary sugar and dental caries in Australian adults

Dietary questions in caries risk assessment and their relationship to caries

OBJECTIVE

This retrospective chart review evaluated the relationship between specific dietary questions used in caries risk assessment and planned restorative treatment among patients attending a dental school's clinic.

METHODS

Records for 6,218 adult patients attending the University of Iowa College of Dentistry who completed caries risk assessments and comprehensive oral examinations during 2018-2019 were included. The number of planned caries restorative treatments were compared between groups based on responses to specific dietary questions on the caries risk assessment. Analyses included chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and logistic regression for factors associated with caries treatments.

RESULTS

About 20% of subjects needed caries treatment, and regression analyses found that younger age, having unstructured meals, drinking sugared beverages daily, and drinking them for more than 30 min were significantly (p < 0.01) associated with having caries.

CONCLUSIONS

Specific and focused questions on dietary practices are strongly associated with caries, and may be useful in improving caries risk assessments.

Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours toward Salt and Sugar Consumption in the Central Division of Fiji

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess salt and sugar-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours (KAB) of adults in the Central Division of Fiji.

METHODS

A randomised stratified sample of 700 adults were selected. Questions on salt and sugar-related KABs were developed. The survey took place from March to June 2022. For analyses, population and sample weights were applied, and differences between predefined subgroups (sex, age, ethnicity and area) were compared using weighted chi-square tests.

RESULTS

534 adults participated (response rate 76%). Over 80% of participants (82% (95% CI 78.5 to 84.9%)) identified that consuming too much salt or salty sauce can lead to hypertension. More than 90% recognised that consuming too much sugar can lead to diabetes (92.3% (89.7 to 94.3%)). Approximately 80% of participants thought it was somewhat or very important to lower salt and sugar intake in their diet (79.8% (76.1 to 83.0) and 84.2% (80.8 to 87.1%), respectively). However, almost 40% reported adding salt or salty sauces when cooking (37.3% (32.7 to 42.2%)) and 65% (60.6 to 68.5%) adding sugar to drinks daily.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite having positive knowledge and attitudes, many people reported behaviours likely to contribute to excess salt and sugar intake, highlighting the need for interventions that support behaviour change and the creation of healthier food environments.

Public and dental teams' views about weight management interventions in dental health settings: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Collaborative approaches across healthcare to address obesity are needed but intervention in dental settings is not widely implemented. Here we systematically synthesized the views of both the public and dental teams about delivering weight management interventions in dental settings and identified potential barriers to implementation. A systematic review of five databases from inception to April 3, 2023 was completed. Proportional meta-analyses were performed with quantitative data and thematic analysis of qualitative data. A total of 7851 studies were screened and 33 included in the review. The prevalence of height and weight screening in dental settings varied (4%-87%) with an average of 29% undertaking screening (p = <0.01; 95% CI: 14%-46%). A significant proportion of the public were supportive of weight screening in dental settings (83%; p = <0.01; 95% CI:76%-88%). Significant barriers to providing weight screening and/or intervention included fear of offending patients (57%; 95% CI: 45%-68%) and a lack of time (48%; 95% CI: 30%-66%). Qualitative data revealed further barriers including stigmatizing views of dental teams toward people living with overweight/obesity. Enablers of weight discussion included associating weight with oral health. Overall, whilst some barriers were identified, there is potential for weight management interventions to be used more routinely in dental settings.

Association of Interdental Cleaning and Untreated Root Caries in Adults in the United States of America

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the association between interdental cleaning and untreated root caries amongst middle-aged and older adults in the US.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2015-2016 and 2017-2018). Adults aged ≥40 years who underwent full mouth examination and root caries assessment were included. Participants were classified based on their interdental cleaning frequency as none, 1-3 d/wk, and 4-7 d/wk. Associations between interdental cleaning and untreated root caries were assessed using a weighted multivariable logistic regression model adjusted for sociodemographics, general behaviour, general health condition, oral conditions, oral health behavior, and dietary factors. Subgroup analyses stratified by age and sex were performed after adjusting for covariates in the logistic regression models.

RESULTS

The prevalence of untreated root caries was 15.3% amongst 6217 participants. Interdental cleaning for 4-7 d/wk was a significant risk factor (odds ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.85). It was associated with a 40% reduction in the risk of untreated root caries in participants aged 40 to 64 years and a 37% reduction in women. Untreated root caries was also significantly associated with age, family income, smoking status, root restoration, number of teeth, untreated coronal caries, and recent dental visit.

CONCLUSIONS

Interdental cleaning for 4-7 d/wk was associated with fewer untreated root caries amongst middle-aged adults and women in the US. The risk of root caries increases with age. Low family income was a risk indicator for root caries amongst middle-aged adults. Additionally, smoking, root restoration, number of teeth, untreated coronal caries, and recent dental visits were common risk factors for root caries in middle-aged and older people in the US.

Association between gastroesophageal reflux disease and dental caries among adults in the Azar cohort population: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Considering the high prevalence of dental caries in adults, it is necessary to study its risk factors to prevent the disease. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common chronic disease with an increasing incidence that may affect the quality and quantity of saliva.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine the association of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with dental caries according to the DMFT index in the Azar cohort population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed on data obtained from the enrollment phase of the Azar Cohort Study (ACS), conducted on 15,000 adults aged 35 to 70. Data of 905 subjects with gastroesophageal reflux disease in the ACS-without full denture-together with a control group of 1894 subjects, who were matched in terms of gender and age, were included in this study. Dental caries data and data on GERD, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, individual and nutritional habits, BMI, and toothbrushing frequency were elicited from the databank of the ACS center. A Generalized Linear Models assuming negative binomial distribution with a log-link function was used for analytical statistics to examine the effect of possible confounding variables.

RESULTS

The DMFT index in the group with GERD was 15.09±6.18, and for the control group was 15.00±6.07. No statistical association was seen between GERD and dental caries. Among the variables included in the regression analysis, being younger and toothbrushing one or more times per day were associated with a lower DMFT index score.

CONCLUSION

According to the results, having GERD did not increase the risk of dental caries. However, due to the cross-sectional design of the study, the results should be interpreted cautiously. The results showed that oral hygiene is one of the most influential factors in reducing dental caries prevalence.

Prioritizing population oral health through public policy in Australia: the Victorian experience

Dental caries, a non-communicable disease, is one of the most prevalent diseases globally and share common modifiable risk factors with obesity such as excess sugar intake. However, prioritization by governments to improve population oral health has been limited and is typically excluded from the discourse of public health policy development. Therefore, interventions that target dental caries can have other co-benefits including obesity prevention. In Victoria, Australia, local government authorities have a regulatory requirement to develop their Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plans. The aim of this paper is to identify whether prioritization for oral health by local government authorities in Victoria has changed through the subsequent renewal of the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plans 2011-2015 and 2019-2023. Three desktop audits for all publicly available Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plans by local government authorities in Victoria were conducted between 2014 and 2022. Key terms related to oral health was searched within these policy documents and categorized into six indicators: (i) included oral health as a priority, (ii) linked healthy eating and oral health, (iii) supported the Achievement Program, (iv) included the Smiles 4 Miles program, (v) advocated for fluoridated drinking water, and (vi) included other strategies related to oral health. Overall, there was statistically significant reduction in five of the six indicators, with the exception for prioritization of other strategies related to oral health such as targeting excess sugar intake and smoking. A multi-sectoral approach, that includes oral health would be advantageous to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.

Are oral health behaviors associated with metabolic syndrome in the Azar cohort population?

OBJECTIVE

Considering the rising prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), this study aimed to investigate the relationship between MetS and its components with oral and dental health in the adult population of the Azar cohort.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study oral health care behaviors, DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) index, and demographic data related to 15,006 patients (5112 in the MetS group and 9894 in the healthy group) of the Azar Cohort population aging from 35 to 70 were collected using appropriate questionnaires. The definition of MetS was based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria. Then, the risk factors of MetS related to oral health behaviors were determined by proper statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The majority of MetS patients were female (66%) and uneducated (23%) (P < 0.001). In the MetS group, the DMFT index (22.15 ± 8.89) was significantly (p < 0.001) higher (20.81 ± 8.94) than the no MetS group. Not brushing at all was associated with increased odds of MetS (unadjusted OR = 1.12, adjusted OR = 1.18). Flossing less than once a day was associated with increased odds of abdominal obesity (unadjusted OR = 1.17, 95%CI = 1.03-1.32) and hyperglycemia (unadjusted OR = 1.88, 95%CI = 1.61-2.20).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that in MetS patients of the Azar cohort study, oral hygiene was worse compared to that in the no MetS group. Further studies are suggested to encourage oral hygiene among the general population which has more beneficiary effects than has been known before.

Effect of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation on sugars intake and dental caries: an umbrella review of a global perspective

BACKGROUND

As part of the Global Strategy on Oral health, the World Health Organization (WHO) is exploring cost-effective interventions for oral health, including taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). To inform this process, this umbrella review aimed to identify the best available estimates pertaining to the impact of SSB taxation on the reduction of sugars intake, and the sugars-caries dose-response, such that estimates of the impact of SSB taxation on averting dental caries in both high (HIC) and low and middle (LMIC) countries be available.

METHODS

The questions addressed were: (1) what are the effects of SSB taxation on consumption of SSBs and (2) sugars? (3) What is the effect on caries of decreasing sugars? and (4) what is the likely impact of a 20% volumetric SSB tax on the number of active caries prevented over 10 years? Data sources included PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source, Cochrane Library, Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Systematic Review Register, and PROSPERO. The review was conducted with reference to JBI guidelines. The quality of included systematic reviews was assessed using AMSTAR to identify best evidence.

RESULTS

From 419 systematic reviews identified for questions 1 & 2, and 103 for question 3, 48 (Questions 1 & 2) and 21 (Question 3) underwent full text screening, yielding 14 and five included reviews respectively. Best available data indicated a 10% tax would reduce SSB intake by 10.0% (95% CI: -5.0, 14.7%) in HIC and by 9% (range -6.0 to 12.0%) in LMIC, and that a 20% tax would reduce free sugars intake on average by 4.0 g/d in LMIC and 4.4 g/d in HIC. Based on best available dose response data, this could reduce the number of teeth with caries per adults (HIC and LMIC) by 0.03 and caries occurrence in children by 2.7% (LMIC) and 2.9% (HIC), over a 10-year period.

CONCLUSION

Best available data suggest a 20% volumetric SSB tax would have a modest impact on prevalence and severity of dental caries in both HIC and LMIC.

Building effective intervention models utilizing big data to prevent the obesity epidemic

INTRODUCTION

The exposome consists of factors an individual is exposed to across the life course. The exposome is dynamic, meaning the factors are constantly changing, affecting each other and individuals in different ways. Our exposome dataset includes social determinants of health as well as policy, climate, environment, and economic factors that could impact obesity development. The objective was to translate spatial exposure to these factors with the presence of obesity into actionable population-based constructs that could be further explored.

METHODS

Our dataset was constructed from a combination of public-use datasets and the Center of Disease Control's Compressed Mortality File. Spatial Statistics using Queens First Order Analysis was performed to identify hot- and cold-spots of obesity prevalence; followed by Graph Analysis, Relational Analysis, and Exploratory Factor Analysis to model the multifactorial spatial connections.

RESULTS

Areas of high and low presence of obesity had different factors associated with obesity. Factors associated with obesity in areas of high obesity propensity were: poverty / unemployment; workload, comorbid conditions (diabetes, CVD) and physical activity. Conversely, factors associated in areas where obesity was rare were: smoking, lower education, poorer mental health, lower elevations, and heat.

DISCUSSION

The spatial methods described within the paper are scalable to large numbers of variables without issues of multiple comparisons lowering resolution. These types of spatial structural methods provide insights into novel variable associations or factor interactions that can then be studied further at the population or policy levels.

Unlocking Modifiable Risk Factors for Alzheimer's Disease: Does the Oral Microbiome Hold Some of the Keys?

Advancing age is recognized as the primary risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD); however approximately one third of dementia cases are attributable to modifiable risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and obesity. Recent research also implicates oral health and the oral microbiome in AD risk and pathophysiology. The oral microbiome contributes to the cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative pathology of AD via the inflammatory, vascular, neurotoxic, and oxidative stress pathways of known modifiable risk factors. This review proposes a conceptual framework that integrates the emerging evidence regarding the oral microbiome with established modifiable risk factors. There are numerous mechanisms by which the oral microbiome may interact with AD pathophysiology. Microbiota have immunomodulatory functions, including the activation of systemic pro-inflammatory cytokines. This inflammation can affect the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, which in turn modulates translocation of bacteria and their metabolites to brain parenchyma. Amyloid-β is an antimicrobial peptide, a feature which may in part explain its accumulation. There are microbial interactions with cardiovascular health, glucose tolerance, physical activity, and sleep, suggesting that these modifiable lifestyle risk factors of dementia may have microbial contributors. There is mounting evidence to suggest the relevance of oral health practices and the microbiome to AD. The conceptual framework presented here additionally demonstrates the potential for the oral microbiome to comprise a mechanistic intermediary between some lifestyle risk factors and AD pathophysiology. Future clinical studies may identify specific oral microbial targets and the optimum oral health practices to reduce dementia risk.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to Assess Dental Caries, Overweight and Obesity in Schoolchildren in the City of Alfenas, Brazil

Childhood-related obesity and overweight are increasing concerns for the health and well-being of children. Dental caries (decay) is the most prevalent oral disease during childhood, and several studies have suggested that nutritional status and dental caries are associated in children. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the geographic distribution of childhood overweight/obesity and dental caries in a medium-sized Brazilian city. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 269 children of both genders enrolled in four public schools in the city of Alfenas. The children were clinically examined to assess cavitated dental caries and nutritional status (overweight and obesity). In addition, the GIS was used for the geospatial clustering analyses. A heat map was created by the Kemel method to estimate the concentration of the outcomes. The cavitated dental caries and overweight/obesity were also pointed out by dots on the map. However, of the 269 children, 118 were boys (43.87%) and 151 were girls (56.13%). One hundred fifty-seven children (58.4%) were classified as having "non-cavitated caries," while 112 (41.6%) were classified as having "cavitied caries." In the nutritional status assessment, 204 children (75.84%) were classified as "eutrophic," while 65 children (24.16%) were classified as "overweight/obesity," A geographical correlation of dental caries with overweight/obesity may exist in the northeast and southwest areas. In conclusion, a geographical concordance between the dental caries and the occurrence of overweight/obesity among the schoolchildren from Alfenas may exist in some areas. Future studies are necessary.

Protein Intake and Oral Health in Older Adults-A Narrative Review

Oral health is vital to general health and well-being for all ages, and as with other chronic conditions, oral health problems increase with age. There is a bi-directional link between nutrition and oral health, in that nutrition affects the health of oral tissues and saliva, and the health of the mouth may affect the foods consumed. Evidence suggests that a healthy diet generally has a positive impact on oral health in older adults. Although studies examining the direct link between oral health and protein intake in older adults are limited, some have explored the relationship via malnutrition, which is also prevalent among older adults. Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) may be associated with poor oral health, dental caries, enamel hypoplasia, and salivary gland atrophy. This narrative review presents the theoretical evidence on the impact of dietary protein and amino acid composition on oral health, and their combined impact on overall health in older adults.

Real-world evidence of the impact of obesity on residual teeth in the Japanese population: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Tooth loss is associated with nutritional status and significantly affects quality of life, particularly in older individuals. To date, several studies reveal that a high BMI is associated with tooth loss. However, there is a lack of large-scale studies that examined the impact of obesity on residual teeth with respect to age and tooth positions.

OBJECTIVE

We assessed the impact of obesity on the number and position of residual teeth by age groups using large scale of Japanese database.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of 706150 subjects that were included in the database that combined the data from health insurance claims and health check-up, those lacking information about BMI, HbA1c level, smoking status, and the number of residual teeth were excluded. Thus, a total of 233517 aged 20-74 years were included. Subjects were classified into 4 categories based on BMI, and the number of teeth was compared between age-groups. The percentage of subjects with residual teeth in each position was compared between groups with obesity (BMI ≥25.0 kg/m2) and non-obesity. Logistic regression analysis was performed to clarify whether obesity predicts having <24 teeth.

RESULTS

Higher BMI was associated with fewer teeth over 40s (P for trend <0.0001 when <70s). Obesity was associated with the reduction of residual teeth in the maxillary; specifically, the molars were affected over the age 30. Smoking status further affected tooth loss at positions that were not affected by obesity alone. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, and HbA1c ≥6.5%, obesity remained an independent predictive factor for having <24 teeth (ORs: 1.35, 95% CIs: 1.30-1.40).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that an increase in BMI was associated with a decrease in the number of residual teeth from younger ages independently of smoking status and diabetes in the large scale of Japanese database.

Impact of gastroplasty on salivary characteristics, dental health status and oral sensory aspects: a controlled clinical study

BACKGROUND

Saliva is a non-invasive source of biomarkers useful in the study of different pathophysiological conditions. The qualitative and quantitative study of saliva, as well as the assessment of oral health, can be particularly useful for a better understanding of obesity due to its importance in the food oral perception and ingestion.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effect of treatment of morbid obesity (dietary counselling versus gastroplasty) on salivary characteristics, oral sensory perception and dental health in a controlled study.

METHODS

73 adults (60 females; 19-59 years) with morbid obesity were divided in: Control group (CG; n=34) followed-up during a 6-months dietary program, and Gastroplasty group (GG; n=39) evaluated immediately before, 3, and 6 months after gastroplasty. Dietary habits, Oral Health Impact Profile and xerostomia complaints were investigated by interview. The clinical examination included anthropometric and caries experience evaluation. Salivary flow rate, buffering capacity, total protein and alpha-amylase levels, and sensitivity for the 4 basic tastes were assessed. Two-way mixed model and sign test were applied.

RESULTS

Physical and clinical aspects did not differ between groups in the beginning of the study, and GG showed a rapid weight loss after surgery (p<0.001). An improvement in most of the dietary aspects was observed, especially in the GG. A worsening in the dental health status was observed over time in both groups, with an increase in the number of filled and decayed teeth. CG showed a better oral health-related quality of life, while xerostomia complains increased in GG after gastroplasty. Salivary flow rate remained stable in both groups, but a decrease in buffering capacity, total protein, and alpha-amylase activity was observed in GG after 6-months; taste sensitivity increased from baseline to 6-months in GG (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

After 6-months of follow-up, patients undergoing gastroplasty presented an improvement in dietary habits and taste sensitivity. However, changes in saliva composition and a worsening in dental health status and xerostomia complaints were also observed.

Dietary Factors Influencing the Caries Status of Adults in Karachi, Pakistan: Initial Findings

Objective: The objective was to identify the relationship between the dietary factors related to increases in the number of dental caries among an adult population group. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving adult patients and their accompanying person, aged 18 years and above (n = 1730) visiting the dental outpatient department (OPD) of a public sector tertiary healthcare institute in Karachi, Pakistan. A 39-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was administered to the patients, followed by a dental caries assessment using Radke’s WHO criteria. Caries assessment data were transformed into the DMFT Index (D = decayed, M = missing, F = filled teeth). Factor analysis (FA) was performed using Stata v. 11.0, followed by assessing the internal consistency of the FFQ. Multilogistic analysis was performed to explore the association between dental caries (cut-off = 5) and other independent variables, considering a p-value < 0.05 as significant. Results: The mean age of participants in the group was 32.65 ± 10.49 years. The number of female participants (934; 54%) was higher than male participants (796; 46%). Of the total, 951 (52%) participants were married. The internal consistency value for the FFQ, as measured by Cronbach’s alpha, was 0.80. In addition to age and gender, out of four dietary patterns, only “cereals” were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) associated with increased DMFT. Conclusion: This study established that the high intake of cereals is a contributory factor to the high prevalence of dental caries among adults.

Systematic Review of the Effect on Caries of Sugars Intake: Ten-Year Update

An update of the systematic review of evidence on the association between amount of sugars intake and dental caries, as well as on the effect of restricting sugars intake to <10% and <5% energy (E) on caries, was conducted, almost 10 y since the review that informed the World Health Organization (WHO) Guideline on Sugars. The aim was to systematically review epidemiological data published from 2011 to 2020 on the amount of sugars consumption and levels of caries and to report the findings for adults and children. Data sources included MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Database, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Eligible studies reported the amount of sugars and caries, measured as prevalence, incidence, or severity. The review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Risk of bias was assessed using the Office of Health Assessment and Translation tool. Vote counting and harvest plots provided the basis for evidence synthesis. From 488 new papers identified, 23 studies were eligible: 4 cohort, 1 case-controlled, 12 cross-sectional, and 6 ecological. Eleven of 15 studies in children and 6 of 8 studies in adults reported at least 1 positive association between sugars and caries. Six of 7 studies in children and 4 of 4 studies in adults, with data enabling comparison of caries levels with sugars intakes >10%E and <10%E, showed lower caries when sugars intake was <10%E. Amalgamating with original studies yielded 64 of 78 studies showing at least 1 positive association, 20 of 78 a null association, and 3 of 78 a negative association between sugars and caries. GRADE profiles of new and original cohort data confirmed "moderate-quality" evidence that caries is lower when sugars intake is <10%E. Furthermore, new cohort data upgraded the quality of evidence (from "very low" to "low") for lower caries when free sugars are <5%E. The findings support and strengthen original evidence underpinning the WHO recommendations for sugars.

The relationship between dietary patterns and overweight and obesity among adult in Jiangsu Province of China: a structural equation model

Aims

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between diet and overweight and obesity in Jiangsu Province by using structural equation modeling (SEM), and to determine dietary differences between genders in the model.

Methods

Data from 1739 individuals (53.8% female, n = 935) were analyzed. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to classify dietary patterns. SEM and multivariate logistic regression were used to explore the relationship between dietary patterns and overweight and obesity.

Results

Overweight and obesity was found in 49.1%, and no difference was found in gender (51.2% of men and 47.2% of women, respectively; P = 0.090). Three dietary patterns: the traditional dietary pattern (i.e., poultry, light-colored vegetables, red meat and its products, cereals and tubers products, condiment, oils and dark-colored vegetables), the fruit-egg dietary pattern (i.e., fruit, whole grains, pickled vegetables and eggs and eggs products) and nut-wine dietary pattern (i.e., nut, wine and pastry snacks) were established by using EFA and CFA. It was found that the traditional dietary pattern for adult male was positively associated with the overweight and obesity in Jiangsu Province of China through multivariate logistic regression and SEM (OR = 1.954; 95%CI: 1.258 ~ 3.036; β =0.121, P < 0.05, respectively).

Conclusion

The traditional dietary pattern only have positive association with overweight and obesity in men in Jiangsu Province, China.

Amylase Alpha 1 Gene (AMY1) Copy Number Variation and Dental Caries Experience: A Pilot Study among Adults in Lithuania

INTRODUCTION

Genetic biomarkers have the potential to be used in personalised dentistry for improved prevention and decision-making in caries management. The amylase alpha 1 gene (AMY1) encodes salivary α-amylase and may be one such biomarker. We examined the association between AMY1 copy number variation (CNV) and dental caries experience in adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A stratified random sample of 193 participants from the Lithuanian National Oral Health Survey (LNOHS) agreed to provide saliva samples and were included in this analysis (age 35-44 years; participation rate 43%). Information on socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics was taken from the LNHOS, which used the self-administered World Health Organisation (WHO) questionnaire. Data on fluoride levels in drinking water at the recruitment areas was recorded based on information provided by water suppliers. Dental caries experience was recorded at a surface level (smooth-surface and occlusal-surface decayed, missing, filled surfaces [D3MFS] score) by one trained and calibrated examiner using WHO criteria, and subsequently dichotomised for the statistical analyses. DNA extracted from saliva samples was used to investigate AMY1 CNV using the QX200 droplet digital PCR system. Bivariate and multivariable statistical analyses were employed.

RESULTS

When compared to participants with an AMY1 copy number (CN) of 2-3, higher odds of smooth-surface D3MFS >14 was observed for participants with a CN of 4-5 (OR 13.3, 95% CI 2.1-86.3), 6-9 (OR 7.0, 95% CI 1.4-34.1), and 10-16 (OR 5.8, 95% CI 1.2-32.2). Female sex was independently associated with a smooth-surface D3MFS >14 (OR 5.7, 95% CI 1.9-17.2).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated an association between AMY1 CNV and high smooth-surface caries experience. Studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate this association.

Poor oral hygiene, oral microorganisms and aspiration pneumonia risk in older people in residential aged care: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

aspiration pneumonia increases hospitalisation and mortality of older people in residential aged care.

OBJECTIVES

determine potentially pathogenic microorganisms in oral specimens of older people with aspiration pneumonia and the effect of professional oral care in reducing aspiration pneumonia risk.

DATA SOURCES

PUBMED/MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, COCHRANE, PROQUEST, Google Scholar, Web of Science.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

published between January 2001 and December 2019 addressing oral microorganisms, aspiration pneumonia, oral health and treatment.

PARTICIPANTS

people 60 years and older in residential aged care.

STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS

the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Intervention Trials checklist.

RESULTS

twelve studies (four cross-sectional, five cohort and three intervention) reported colonisation of the oral cavity of older people by microorganisms commonly associated with respiratory infections. Aspiration pneumonia occurred less in people who received professional oral care compared with no such care. Isolation of Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was related to mortality due to aspiration pneumonia. An interesting finding was isolation of Escherichia coli, a gut bacterium.

LIMITATIONS

more information may be present in publications about other co-morbidities that did not meet inclusion criteria. A high degree of heterogeneity prevented a meta-analysis. Issues included sampling size, no power and effect size calculations; different oral health assessments; how oral specimens were analysed and how aspiration pneumonia was diagnosed.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS

pathogenic microorganisms colonising the oral microbiome are associated with aspiration pneumonia in older people in residential care; professional oral hygiene care is useful in reducing aspiration pneumonia risk.

The impact of different determinants on the dental caries experience of children living in Australia rural and urban areas

AIMS

Evidence suggests there are geographical variations in child oral health and this has prompted research into determinants of that variation. This study aimed to investigate factors attributable to the difference in child oral health between urban and rural areas in Australia.

METHOD

Data were from the National Child Oral Health Study 2012-14, a population-based study of 5- to 14-year-old children, who underwent oral epidemiological examinations by trained examiners. Caries prevalence (dmfs/DMFS > 0) and experience (dmfs/DMFS count) in the primary dentition (5- to 8-year-old) and permanent dentition (9- to 14-year-old) were calculated. Children were grouped by residential location (urban or rural areas). A parental questionnaire collected information on family socio-economic factors, and individual health behaviours (dental access, sugar consumption and toothbrushing). Residential history was used to calculate lifetime exposure to water fluoridation (WF). Analyses were weighted to produce population-representative estimates. The primary outcomes were assessed separately for the two groups in regression models with robust standard error estimation to estimate prevalence ratios and mean ratios and their 95% confidence intervals. Population Attributable Fractions were calculated using the population distribution of the exposures and their adjusted estimates.

RESULTS

10 581 5- to 8-year-old and 14 041 9- to 14-year-old children were included. Caries prevalence was higher in rural than in urban areas. In multivariable models, exposure to fluoridation, reason for dental visit and consumption of sugary beverages were consistently associated with caries prevalence and experience. WF coverage attributed to differences in caries prevalence (10% vs 21%) and experience (14% vs 35%) in the permanent dentition. High consumption of sugary beverages attributed to a higher primary and permanent dental caries experience in rural than in urban areas. Dental access was also attributed to the differences between the two areas.

CONCLUSION

Factors at both community and individual levels attributed to the observed differences in child caries prevalence and experience between urban and rural areas.

Diet and root surface caries in a cohort of older Japanese

OBJECTIVES

Root surface caries experience tends to increase with age. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the relationship between aspects of dietary intake, including milk and sucrose in coffee or tea (SCT), and root surface caries in older Japanese individuals.

METHODS

303 community-dwelling older individuals (age 75 years) were enrolled for analysis. All participants underwent a dental examination at baseline and then annually from 2003 to 2008 (ie six times over a 5-year period). A disease event was considered to have occurred when root surface caries was detected on a previously sound or nonexposed root surface. Over the observation period, disease events in each year were counted. Dietary habits during the preceding month were evaluated using a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ) in 2003 and 2008. Poisson regression analysis performed crude and adjusted increment-rate ratios (IRRs) for root surface caries and the intake of milk and SCT.

RESULTS

The adjusted increment-rate ratio (IRR) of the increment of root surface caries for participants in the highest SCT tertile was 1.72 (95%CI: 1.40-2.14) compared with the referent group. In addition, for the amount of milk intake, the adjusted IRR in the highest tertile was 0.63 (95% CI: 0.51-0.78) compared with the referent group.

CONCLUSIONS

Much SCT and low milk intake were associated with the increment of root surface caries in community-dwelling older people in Japan. These findings suggest that to help prevent root surface caries, community-dwelling older people in Japan should consume adequate amounts of milk daily and limit their intake of SCT.

Self-Reported Oral Health, Oral Hygiene and Associated Factors in Lithuanian Adult Population, 1994-2014

This study aimed to examine 20-year trends (1994-2014) in self-reported oral health and oral hygiene and to assess the associated factors in a Lithuanian population aged 20-64 years. Nationally representative cross-sectional data on 8612 men and 11,719 women were obtained from 11 biennial postal surveys of Lithuanian health behavior monitoring. Dentate status was assessed by asking about the number of missing teeth. Over the study period, the proportion of men with all teeth increased from 17.5% to 23.0% and the same proportion increased in women-from 12.5% to 19.6%. The prevalence of edentulousness was 2.8% in 2014. The proportion of individuals brushing teeth at least twice a day increased from 14.6% to 31.9% in men and from 33.0% to 58.8% in women. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that older age, lower education, living in rural areas, daily smoking, confectionary consumption (only in women), obesity, no visits to a dentist during the past year, toothache and brushing teeth less than twice a day increased the odds of missing six or more teeth. Efforts should be made to promote good oral hygiene habits, prevent and control behavioral risk factors and increase access to dental care among risk groups.

Clinical and microbiological evaluation of non-surgical periodontal therapy in obese and non-obese individuals with periodontitis: a 9-month prospective longitudinal study

Objective Obesity is a chronic disease that negatively affects an individual's general and oral health. The present study aimed to compare the clinical and microbiological effects of non-surgical periodontal therapy with the full mouth disinfection (FMD) protocol on obese and non-obese individuals at 9 months post-therapy. Methodology This clinical study was first submitted and approved by the Ethics Committee. Fifty-five obese patients and 39 non-obese patients with periodontitis were evaluated. The full-mouth periodontal clinical parameters, clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth (PD), gingival index (GI), and plaque index (PI), were monitored at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months after periodontal treatment with full mouth disinfection (FMD) protocol. The mean count of Tannerella forsythia , Porphyromonas gingivalis , Treponema Denticola , and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction on subgingival biofilm samples. Demographic data were assessed by Chi-square test. For clinical and microbiological parameters, two-factor repeated-measures ANOVA was used. Results In both groups, periodontal therapy using the one-stage full-mouth disinfection protocol significantly improved CAL, PD, GI, and PI (p<0.05). Obese and non-obese patients equally responded to non-surgical periodontal therapy (p>0.05). Microbial count found no major differences (p>0.05) between obese and non-obese individuals who had undergone non-surgical periodontal therapy. Conclusions Obesity did not affect the clinical and microbiological outcomes of non-surgical periodontal therapy.

Obesity and dental caries in early childhood: A systematic review and meta-analyses

Obesity and dental caries in children are significant health problems. The aims of this review are to identify whether children aged 6 years and younger with overweight and/or obesity have higher dental caries experience compared with children with normal weight and, secondly, to identify the common risk factors associated with both conditions. Medline, Embase, and seven other databases were systematically searched followed by lateral searches from reference lists, grey literature, theses, conference proceedings, and contacting field experts. Longitudinal observational studies addressing overweight and/or obesity and dental caries in children aged 6 years and younger were included. A random effects model meta-analyses were applied. Nine studies were included in this review. Children with overweight and obesity had a significantly higher dental caries experience compared with children with normal weight (n = 6). The pooled estimates showed that difference in caries experience between the two groups was statistically significant. Low levels of parental income and education were identified to be associated with both conditions in the sample population. Children with overweight and obesity are more vulnerable to dental caries. Low levels of parental income and education influence the relationship between the two conditions. However, the quality of evidence varied considerably; therefore, findings should be interpreted cautiously.

The Prevention of Infections in Older Adults: Oral Health

The oral cavity is exposed to the external environment and from a very young age is colonized by infectious agents. Under certain circumstances including poor oral hygiene, dry mouth, trauma, and the use of antibiotics, oral infections can occur. They can result in damage to the oral cavity including teeth and their support structures. Oral infections can also lead to the extension of infection into surrounding tissues and to systemic infections. Chronic oral infection is a recognized risk factor for heart disease. Older adults are at high risk for oral infections and associated complications. Tooth loss, for which infection is the most significant cause, leads to cosmetic changes and a decreased ability to masticate certain foods that can lead to malnutrition. Chronic oral infections and the manipulation of teeth and supporting structures can lead to the hematogenous spread of infection including the infection of artificial joints and endocardial implants. Good oral hygiene, the use of fluoride, regular dental care, and the appropriate use of antibiotics can all reduce oral infections and their associated complications. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:411-416, 2020.