IADR Abstract Archives
Obesity and Dental Caries in Young Children
Objectives: This study aimed to examine the relationship between obesity and dental caries in young English children. A further objective was to determine the impact of neighbourhood-level characteristics on the distribution of the two conditions.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among children in Plymouth city aged four-to-six years. Anthropometric measurements included weight and height (converted to Body Mass Index). Dental caries was assessed by adding the number of teeth that were decayed, missing or filled. Information on children’s demographic characteristics, oral hygiene and dietary habits were obtained via a pilot-tested questionnaire. The impact of deprivation on obesity and caries was determined using ANOVA and Poisson regression models, respectively. Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between obesity and caries and to examine the impact of several demographic and health-related behaviours on the presence of the two conditions. Generalised linear models were used to examine the impact of neighbourhood-level characteristics on obesity and caries rates.
Results: The total sample included 347 children aged 5.10 ± 0.31 (mean ± SD). Deprivation had a significant impact on caries and general obesity (p<0.05). Obesity was not significantly associated with dental caries. From the neighbourhood characteristics examined, the percentage of people dependent on benefits was found to have a significant impact on caries (p<0.05). Household’s total income was inversely related to caries risk while parental educational level affected children’s tooth brushing frequency. The consumption of several sweetened items was found to increase caries risk.
Conclusions: No association between obesity and caries was found. However, deprivation affected both obesity and caries, thus highlighting the need to prioritise disadvantaged children in future prevention programmes. Dependence on benefits appears to be a useful indicator of increased risk of caries in Plymouth context.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among children in Plymouth city aged four-to-six years. Anthropometric measurements included weight and height (converted to Body Mass Index). Dental caries was assessed by adding the number of teeth that were decayed, missing or filled. Information on children’s demographic characteristics, oral hygiene and dietary habits were obtained via a pilot-tested questionnaire. The impact of deprivation on obesity and caries was determined using ANOVA and Poisson regression models, respectively. Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between obesity and caries and to examine the impact of several demographic and health-related behaviours on the presence of the two conditions. Generalised linear models were used to examine the impact of neighbourhood-level characteristics on obesity and caries rates.
Results: The total sample included 347 children aged 5.10 ± 0.31 (mean ± SD). Deprivation had a significant impact on caries and general obesity (p<0.05). Obesity was not significantly associated with dental caries. From the neighbourhood characteristics examined, the percentage of people dependent on benefits was found to have a significant impact on caries (p<0.05). Household’s total income was inversely related to caries risk while parental educational level affected children’s tooth brushing frequency. The consumption of several sweetened items was found to increase caries risk.
Conclusions: No association between obesity and caries was found. However, deprivation affected both obesity and caries, thus highlighting the need to prioritise disadvantaged children in future prevention programmes. Dependence on benefits appears to be a useful indicator of increased risk of caries in Plymouth context.