Tooth erosion and dental caries in schoolchildren: is there a relationship between them?

Abstract

Aim: To identify a possible association between the occurrence of dental caries and tooth erosion and to correlate the dietary factor with an increased risk of dental caries. Methods: A crosssectional study in a multistage random sample of 1,211, 8 to 12-years-old Brazilian schoolchildren in private and public schools was conducted in Pelotas, Brazil. The prevalence of dental caries and tooth erosion was assessed. Dietary habits data were collected by a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Poisson regression model taking into account the cluster sample (Prevalence ratio-PR; 95% Confidence Interval-CI). Results: The prevalence of dental caries and tooth erosion was 32.4% (95% CI: 30.0; 35.2) and 25.0% (95% CI: 23.4; 29.0), respectively. Most children had high consumption of sweets (65%). Consumption of fruits, such as oranges (31%), strawberries (23.6%), pineapple (12%), and natural fruit juices (oranges, lemon) was low. Soft drinks consumption, 3 or more times a week was observed in 40% of the children. Conclusions: Dental caries was not statistically associated with tooth erosion. The consumption of acidic fruits/drinks was not associated with dental caries. Dental caries and dental erosion were not associated with each other and with acidic fruits or drinks consumption.

Oral hygiene, dietary habits and prevalence of dental caries in adolescents from rural and urban areas in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

“…Eating and drinking habits (consumption of soft drinks and fruit) were collected at various times during the week and subsequently categorized as high or low consumption, in accordance with the literature [21][22] . The behavioral variables were collected through the literature, adapted from Barros & Nahas 23 .…”

Bacterial adhesion on fissure sealants: Effects of exposure to acidic drink

“…On the other side, it’s known that Coca-Cola soft drinks cause an increase of the surface roughness of the sealant materials ( 32 ). Coca Cola (pH 2.3) is widely consumed by the population and it’s got high erosive potential due to its low pH and fluoride/calcium concentrations ( 33 ). The oral cavity is for sure the suitable environment for evaluating the behavior of dental materials and it’s well known that, during consumption, beverages contact only with the tooth surface and restorative materials for a short time before they are washed away by saliva, but in vitro models are very important for providing insight into the fundamental mechanisms of biodegradation ( 32 ).…”

Does erosive tooth wear affect the oral health-related quality of life of preschool children?

“…be interpreted with caution due to the lack of uniformity in recorded methods. The differences in prevalence are mainly due to indexes adopted among studies or dietary habits between countries and regions 33 .…”