Assessment of food consumption changes in adolescents during orthodontic treatment

This study aimed to evaluate the changes in food consumption in adolescents during orthodontic treatment.

Twenty-five adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years participated in the study. Before the treatment, the participants were interviewed, and their food consumption frequency and 24-hour retrospective food consumption records were taken. Participants were followed up for 3 months, that is, in the first, fourth, and 12th week of the treatment. In the interviews, questions about food consumption changes and posttreatment pain were asked to the participants, and 24-hour retrospective food consumption records were obtained.

When the food consumption records of the adolescents before the orthodontic treatment and at the first week, first month, and third month of the active orthodontic treatment were compared, there was no significant difference between total energy, protein, and carbohydrate intake. However, total fat intake decreased in the first week of treatment and increased significantly during the treatment period (P = 0.05). There was a significant decrease in the amount of fiber (P = 0.039), vitamin E (P = 0.043), and vitamin C (P = 0.048) intake of patients during the orthodontic treatment.

Nutrition and feeding habits are important for growth and development in adolescence. In adolescents having orthodontic treatment, vitamin C, vitamin E, and fiber intake decreased significantly, especially in the first weeks of treatment. The intake of these nutrients did not return to their initial levels by the 12th week of the orthodontic treatment. It is thought that cooperation with dietitians and orthodontists might minimize the undesired nutritional effects of the orthodontic treatment.