Association between Dental Caries and Body Mass Index-for-Age among 10-12-Year-Old Female Students in Tehran

Relationship between Salivary Alpha-Amylase Enzyme Activity, Anthropometric Indices, Dietary Habits, and Early Childhood Dental Caries

Objectives

Although early childhood dental caries (ECC) have the same general etiology as other types of caries, predisposing factors are not well elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effect of salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) activity, body mass index (BMI), dietary habits, and oral hygiene on ECC.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was performed on 38 ECC-affected and 41 caries-free children, aged 36 to 72 months. Upon the parents' consent, 3 mL of non-stimulated saliva was collected from the participants to measure the level of sAA activity through spectrophotometry. Additionally, parents/caretakers completed a structured questionnaire about demographic factors, oral hygiene, and consumption of sugar-containing foods. BMI, BMI z-scores, and percentile data were calculated by using an online calculator. The independent variables were dichotomized and tested through chi-square test, followed by a stepwise logistic regression, by using SPSS software (α = 0.05).

Results

The sAA activity was significantly higher in caries-free children (P ≤ 0.001). However, the mean BMI was not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.49). Brushing and other measured dietary habits were significantly associated with the development of ECC (P ≤ 0.001). According to the results of the logistic regression, sAA activity was shown to be a predictor for ECC development (Odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 0.9 (0.95–0.98)).

Conclusion

Children with inherently lower levels of sAA activity were more susceptible to dental caries. Improper nutritional habits and poor oral health care could exacerbate the risk of ECC.

The Association between Nutritional Alterations and Oral Lesions in a Pediatric Population: An Epidemiological Study

The oral conditions of an individual are the result of different factors, including the subject's genotype, oral hygiene habits, the type of diet, and lifestyle, such as smoking. Nutrition in the first years of life can affect dental health for a long time. To prevent mouth diseases, it is also important to eliminate unfavorable eating behaviour and to amplify protective ones. Eating habits, especially in pediatric age, are an easily modifiable and controllable factor, and diet, in addition to influencing the health of the oral cavity, plays a fundamental role in systemic health. Indeed, a sugar-rich diet can lead to conditions, such as diabetes, being overweight, and obesity. The present research was an epidemiological study, with the aim of highlighting some of the associations between nutrition and oral health. In particular, we studied those lesions of hard and soft tissues that are diagnosed most frequently by dentists: caries, enamel hypoplasia, periodontal disease, and aphotoxic lesions and their associations with nutritional deficiencies and excesses including proteins, vitamin A, vitamin D, B vitamins, and iron and calcium minerals. To perform this study, we recruited 70 patients from the pediatric and orthodontic clinics, aged between 3 and 15 years (y), with mean age of 10.4 y.o. The study was conducted by providing a questionnaire to pediatric patients' (supported from their parents or guardians) on individual eating habits, followed by an accurate oral cavity specialistic examination. The nutritional data were processed by using Grana Padano Observatory (OGP) software, freely provided online by the OPG. The statistical tests performed were the chi-square (χ²) for independence, and Cramér's V test was used to evaluate the associations between eating habits and oral pathologies. The results showed that certain nutritional vitamin deficiencies and nutritional excesses were associated with definite oral pathologies.

ANALYSIS OF DENTAL CARIES IN THE PERMANENT FIRST MOLARS AND RELATED FACTORS WITH CHILDREN AGED 10–12 YEARS IN SOUTHERN CHINA

In order to investigate and analyze the caries status of permanent first molars (PFMs) in children aged 10 to 12 years in Southern China and to analyze the related factors, from January to August 2019, a multi-stage, stratified, cluster, and random sampling method had been used to select 6208 children from 22 schools in Guangzhou city for oral health examinations and questionnaires. The total caries rate of the PFMs was 39.40%, total DMFT score was [Formula: see text], the filling rate of caries was 3.38%, and the rate of fissure sealant was 5.89%. The percentage of PFM caries was statistically significant between female and boys, urban and rural areas, only-children and non-only children, and between ethnic minorities and Han ethnic groups ([Formula: see text]). The difference between urban and rural areas was statistically significant ([Formula: see text]). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the number of daily toothbrushes, the number of desserts eaten, milk drinking before bedtime, being the only-child, and the parents’ level of education were the independents influencing the factors of for developing dental caries. The incidence of dental caries in the PFMs of children aged 10–12 years in Southern China is high, and the rate of fissure sealant and the rate of dental fillings are low. There are a lot of differences between urban and rural areas, where children’s oral health knowledge is poor, and poor oral hygiene behaviors and dietary habits exist.

Association of Paternal Individual Deprivation Measure with General Anthropometric Data and Dental Caries among 12 to 15 year old school going children, in Tiruvallur District - A cross sectional study

AIM

To determine General anthropometric data and dental caries and their association of paternal Individual Deprivation Measure among 12- to 15-year-old school going children in Tiruvallur District.

METHODS AND MATERIAL

The Anthropometric data such as Body mass index, Skin fold thickness and mid arm circumference was assessed. The study was also conducted to assess children's paternal deprivation using individual deprivation index (IDM). Paternal deprivation was calculated using Individual deprivation index which comprises of 15 dimensions. Pilot study was done to calculate sample size which is found to be 800.

RESULTS

Dimension of paternal individual deprivation measure in parent Education, Housing, toileting, family planning, problem in visiting doctor between Government and Private School children was significant with P value of 0.0005. Interpretation of Paternal individual deprivation measure was found to be significant among Government and private school children. There was no association of individual deprivation measure with dental caries, but there was an association of Individual paternal deprivation measure with one of the anthropometric measure was mid arm circumference. In paternal deprivation index 21.8% of the children's parent were not deprived, 45.8% were somewhat deprived, 22.6% were deprived, 7.3% were very deprived, 2.6 were extremely deprived among school children.