Dental erosion and its association with diet in Libyan schoolchildren

• Published in: European archives of paediatric dentistry Vol. 12; no. 5; pp. 234 - 240
• Main Authors: Huew, R., Waterhouse, P. J., Moynihan, P. J., Kometa, S., Maguire, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.10.2011; European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Animals; Bananas; Beverages; Beverages - statistics & numerical data; Bivariate analysis; Carbonated Beverages - statistics & numerical data; Care and treatment; Chewing Gum - statistics & numerical data; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental caries; Dental Enamel - pathology; Dental erosion; Dental Pulp - pathology; Dentin - pathology; Dentistry; Diet; Diet - statistics & numerical data; Dietary Sucrose - administration & dosage; Drinking Water; Elementary school students; Feeding Behavior; Female; Food and nutrition; Frequency analysis; Fruit; Fruit drinks; Fruits; Health aspects; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Libya - epidemiology; Male; Medicine; Milk; Multivariate analysis; Nutrition research; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tea; Tooth Erosion - epidemiology; United Kingdom; Libya; children; diet; Erosion
• ISSN: 1818-6300; 1996-9805
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03262814

AIM: To investigate any association between dental erosion and its potential dietary risk factors in a group of schoolchildren in Benghazi, Libya. STUDY DESIGN : A cross-sectional observational study. METHODS : A random sample of 12-year-old schoolchildren in 36 randomly selected schools completed a questionnaire to provide dietary data and underwent dental examination. Dental erosion was assessed using UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2000) criteria. Associations between erosion and dietary variables under study were investigated through processes of bivariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS : Of 791 schoolchildren dentally examined, 40.8% had dental erosion; erosion into enamel affecting 32.5%, into dentine affecting 8% and into pulp affecting 0.3% of subjects. Bivariate analysis showed frequency of fruit-based sugary drink intake was statistically significantly and positively associated with erosion (p=0.006, Odds Ratio; 1.498, 95% CI; 1.124, 1.996) as was the length of time taken to consume acidic drinks (p≠0.005, Odds Ratio; 1.593, 95%CI; 1.161, 2.186). Additionally, multivariate analysis showed frequency of consumption of fruit other than bananas, sugared tea with milk and flavoured milk to also be positively associated with erosion (p=<0.05). CONCLUSIONS : In this group of Libyan 12-year-olds, frequency of consumption of fruit-based sugary drinks and length of time taken to consume acidic drinks were the primary statistically significant positive risk factors for dental erosion.