Emotional symptoms, dietary patterns and dental caries: A cross‐sectional study in adolescents

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study investigates the relationship between emotional symptoms and dental caries in adolescents and the role of dietary patterns as mediating variables.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study used a multistage stratified random sample of schools, in Jiangsu, with a sample of 17,997 adolescents aged 11–19. Measures included emotional symptoms, dental caries, toothbrushing frequency, and dietary patterns. Logistic and Poisson regression models were conducted to test mediation hypotheses.ResultsThe decayed, missing, and filled teeth index (DMFT) was related to depressive symptoms following adjustment for other variables (incidence rate ratios [IRR] = 1.09; p < 0.05), but not to anxiety symptoms level (IRR = 1.02; p > 0.05). The link between depressive symptoms and DMFT had a partial mediation impact on toothbrushing frequency (a, b, c′ all p < 0.05). Sugary foods, but not fried foods, partially mediated the link between depressive symptoms and caries when toothbrushing frequency was adjusted.ConclusionThere are direct and indirect associations between emotional symptoms and caries; the latter may be due to changes in oral health behaviours that increase the risk of caries.