Associations Between Dietary Habits, Oral Microbiota, and Dental Caries in Adolescents

Suboptimal dietary habits, such as excessive consumption of sugary foods and beverages, have been associated with a higher risk of dental caries. While known cariogenic species enrichment in the oral microbiome correlating with dental caries, the complex interactions between dietary habits, the oral microbiota, and dental caries among adolescents remain underexplored. Here, we examined the comprehensive associations between dietary habits, oral microbiota, and dental caries among 421 adolescents (mean age: 12.9 years, 28% having dental caries). The dietary data were collected via a food frequency questionnaire, dental health was examined by a skilled dentist, and the saliva microbiota was profiled by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. Significant difference in the oral microbial composition was observed between participants with and without dental caries (p-value < 0.05), which was replicated in an external adult population (n = 580). The relative abundances of 19 genera were associated with dental caries in adolescents independent of gender (all FDR-adjusted p-values < 0.20). For example, dental caries was linked with a higher abundance of Prevotella and Veillonella, both of which were also enriched in higher consumer of sugary food and beverage. In mediation analysis, certain caries-related genera, including Staphylococcus and Paludibacteraceae F0058, might partially mediate the associations between dietary habits and dental caries (p-mediation < 0.05). This research highlighted the role of oral microbiota in the association between dietary intakes and dental caries and may explain the potential mechanisms by which diet affects dental caries.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43657-024-00208-3.