IADR Abstract Archives
Persistent effect of free sugars intakes on child dental caries experience
Objectives: To quantify the relationship between number of sugars intakes and child dental caries under current dental programs.
Methods: Data of the Australian National Child Oral Health Study 2012-14, a population-based study of 24,664 children aged 5–14-years, were collected using parental questionnaires and oral epidemiological examinations by trained examiners. Information on socioeconomic factors (SES), dental health behaviours and dental service were collected and used as covariates. Number of serves of free sugars-containing foods and drinks consumed in a usual day was collected as the main exposure, categorised into five Sugars Intakes groups from lowest, Intake1 (<2 serves/day) to highest, Intake5 (8+ serves/day). Residential history was used to calculate lifetime exposure to fluoridated water (LEFW) as Low; Medium; and High. Caries prevalence and experience (dmfs and DMFS) of the primay (age 5-8) and permanent (age 9-14) dentitions were used as the main outcomes. Effect of Sugars Intakes on each outcome was estimated in multivariable log-Poisson regression models with robust standard error estimation, adjusted for covariates. LEFW was used as an effect modifier of the associations between Sugar Intakes and the outcomes.
Results: Strong positive gradients in all outcomes were observed across Sugars Intake groups. Against the Intake1, the Intake4–Intake5 had significantly higher adjusted prevalence ratios for having caries in either dentition. Adjusted mean ratios for primary dmfs were significantly higher for Intake3–Intake5 and for permanent DMFS were significant for the Intake2–Intake5 against the Intake1. The effect of Sugars Intake persisted after controlling for all covariates. LEFW strongly and consistently attenuated effects of all levels of Sugars Intake on the outcomes (Figure 1). However, all interactions between LEFW and Sugars Intake were not statistically significant.
Conclusions: LEFW attenuated but did not fully eliminate impact of sugars on dental health outcomes. Limiting free sugars intake to 1 serve/day lowers risk of dental caries in children.
Methods: Data of the Australian National Child Oral Health Study 2012-14, a population-based study of 24,664 children aged 5–14-years, were collected using parental questionnaires and oral epidemiological examinations by trained examiners. Information on socioeconomic factors (SES), dental health behaviours and dental service were collected and used as covariates. Number of serves of free sugars-containing foods and drinks consumed in a usual day was collected as the main exposure, categorised into five Sugars Intakes groups from lowest, Intake1 (<2 serves/day) to highest, Intake5 (8+ serves/day). Residential history was used to calculate lifetime exposure to fluoridated water (LEFW) as Low; Medium; and High. Caries prevalence and experience (dmfs and DMFS) of the primay (age 5-8) and permanent (age 9-14) dentitions were used as the main outcomes. Effect of Sugars Intakes on each outcome was estimated in multivariable log-Poisson regression models with robust standard error estimation, adjusted for covariates. LEFW was used as an effect modifier of the associations between Sugar Intakes and the outcomes.
Results: Strong positive gradients in all outcomes were observed across Sugars Intake groups. Against the Intake1, the Intake4–Intake5 had significantly higher adjusted prevalence ratios for having caries in either dentition. Adjusted mean ratios for primary dmfs were significantly higher for Intake3–Intake5 and for permanent DMFS were significant for the Intake2–Intake5 against the Intake1. The effect of Sugars Intake persisted after controlling for all covariates. LEFW strongly and consistently attenuated effects of all levels of Sugars Intake on the outcomes (Figure 1). However, all interactions between LEFW and Sugars Intake were not statistically significant.
Conclusions: LEFW attenuated but did not fully eliminate impact of sugars on dental health outcomes. Limiting free sugars intake to 1 serve/day lowers risk of dental caries in children.
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