Predictors of quality of life oral the adolescents portugueses

Methods: A epidemiological study was performed on 782 adolescents aged between 11 and 17 years belonging to the central region of Portugal. Subjects were asked about dietary habits, clinical and oral health-related quality of life (OHIP-49).

Results: Most adolescents (83.2%) considered they have a healthy or very healthy diet. The adolescents have a mean DMFT value of 2.32 (SD = 2.514). The Bacterial Plaque Index  (IPB) had the most dramatic results in "1/3 of the gingival region tooth" and "2/3 of the gingival region tooth",respectively, with the average 2.33 ± 1.6 and 2.27 ± 1.55.Regarding the cariostatic meals the most frequently ingested by adolescents are water (87.0%), fresh fruit (60.2%), the plain milk (47.7%), the yogurt / cheese (47.7 %) and vegetables / salad (45.4%).Cariogenic foods in the highest percentage by teenagers, once daily or more than once per day, chocolate milk (45.6%), soup (45.2%), breakfast cereals and chocolate (32.3%), the soft drinks / juices gas (25.7%), rice (25.3%), biscuits (23.1%) and mass (21.2%). In general, OHIP score in our sample had an average of 3.3 items affected severely (sometimes or more frequently). The level of impact on "functional limitation" was the highest with an average of 3.3 ± 4.1 items affected frequently and social disability registered the least impact with 0.9 ± 2.9 items frequently reported. Cariogenic foods in the predicted total OHIP (SC) (F = 23,179 p = 0 193, t = 4814, p = 0.000) and in all its dimensions

Conclusions: cariogenic foods are predictors with oral quality of life of Portuguese adolescents.