Do adolescents who are night owls have a higher risk of dental caries? – a case–control study

Abstract

Adolescents who belonged to the evening circadian rhythm group brushed their teeth more seldom, ate breakfast less regularly and had a higher risk of caries than morning types. A patient's circadian rhythm should be considered when planning oral health education for adolescents with a high risk of caries.

Association among chronotype, dietary behaviours, and caries experience in Brazilian adolescents: Is there a behavioural pattern?

“…As an important predictor of healthy eating patterns, having breakfast was associated with decreased DMFT scores, which is consistent with previous work . This behaviour may highlight a more pronounced concern with a healthier lifestyle of the adolescents.…”

“…Adolescents with the habit of eating regular meals, such as breakfast, probably avoid eating between meals in the morning, for instance, or eating snacks continuously during the day. This might reduce the daily amount of “acid attacks” on the tooth enamel, which, consequently, will be related to less dental caries . Previous studies reported that morning‐type individuals exhibited a healthier lifestyle, and their evening‐type peers had poorer adherence to a healthy diet .…”

“…Further studies are also needed to increase the knowledge regarding the association between chronotype, dental caries, and other oral health outcomes. Additional research should also be conducted to unveil the relationship between chronotype and pattern of dietary habits, considering the influence that the interplay between these two variables might have on oral health status . Longitudinal studies are encouraged.…”

“…One of the aspects that may have an effect on the practices related to oral health is the “circadian rhythm.” This is an endogenous mechanism, which controls all the functions of the human body. Circadian rhythm differs among individuals.…”

“…The relationship between chronotype and health outcomes has been documented in the literature . The association between chronotype and dental caries, however, has been very poorly investigated thus far . A deeper understanding of the underlying factors associated with this disease may contribute to provide useful tools to its prevention and control.…”