The Relationship between Tooth Erosion and Lifestyle in Cambodian Adolescents

Objective:  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between tooth erosion and life style in Cambodian adolescents. Method:  A representative sample of 177, 15 to 16 years old adolescents, was taken from Prey Veng High School. This was a part of a larger sample that included four other schools. Each participant underwent an interview and an intra-oral examination. Teeth were scored by using the Basic Erosion Wear Examination (BEWE) and the Tooth Wear Index (TWI). Result:  The number of participants that reported parafunctional habits was 89 (50.3%) for grinding, and 131 (74.0%) for biting objects. 173 (97.7%) participants reported that they brushed their teeth. The mean number of acidic food exposures per week was 11.9 (SD 5.7) while the mean number of acidic drinks per week was 11.7 (SD 7.4). The mean total number of acidic exposures per week was 23.6 (SD 10.8). There was a significant relationship between total acidic exposures (including both acidic foods and acidic drinks) and erosive lesions (P<0.05). The mean of the most severe BEWE score for occlusal surfaces was 1.9 (SD 1.1) for the low, 2.2 (SD 1.0) for the medium, and 1.4 (SD 1.2) for the high acid group. The mean most severe TWI score for occlusal surfaces was 1.5 (SD 0.6) for the low acid group, 1.8 (SD 0.7) for the medium acid group, and 1.5 (SD 0.6) for the high acid group. Conclusion: This study shows that there was a significant relationship between diet and the presence of erosive tooth lesions in a group of Cambodian adolescents.