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The association between nutritional status and dental caries in low-income children: A multilevel analysis
Iana Nogueira Rego1, Flávia Cohen-Carneiro1, Mario Vianna Vettore2
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Odontologia, Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil.
Background:
The possible association between obesity, underweight, and dental caries remains in debate. In addition, the role of sugar consumption on the abovementioned relationship was little explored.
Aim:
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between nutritional status and dental caries in 12-year-old low-income children.
Design:
This cross-sectional school-based study involved 406 12-year-old children living with limited economic resources. Dental caries was assessed using the decayed component of DMFT and PUFA/pufa index. Children were weighed and measured to assess nutritional status according to z-score/body mass index. Data on socio-economic and demographic characteristics, sugar consumption, sedentary behaviour, and psychosocial factors were collected through validated questionnaires. Multivariable multilevel Poisson regression was performed.
Results:
Underweight children had 60% (RR = 1.60; 95% CI 1.13-2.57) higher mean of decayed teeth and had mean PUFA/pufa 2.8 times higher than children with normal nutritional status. Underweight children with high annual sugar intake had a greater mean of decayed teeth (RR = 2.72; 95% CI 1.46-5.06) than underweight children with low sugar intake.
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest that malnutrition is associated with dental caries among children from low-income families.
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