Do Income Inequalities Influence the Relationship between Dental Caries Experience and Nutritional Status in Children and Adolescents? A Scoping Review

An increasing number of systematic reviews (SR) has investigated the association between dental caries and nutritional status in children and adolescents, thus requiring an overview to compile the information in a single piece of evidence. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate and summarize evidence from published SR on the association between dental caries and nutritional status in children and adolescents. A wide search was conducted on May 29, 2023, in six databases (Medline via PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane library, Embase, and the Virtual Health Library – VHL). An additional search was performed in the gray literature (Open grey and Google Scholar), SR registration databases, and the list of references of the included SR. Our inclusion criteria were based on acronym PECOS. Overall, two reviewers independently extracted the data, evaluated the risk of bias (ROBIS), and assessed the quality of the chosen studies (AMSTAR-2). Data from the included meta-analysis were summarized and certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach was performed. After removing duplicates and applying our eligibility criteria, 19 SR from 2006-2022 were included. We found that 17 SR showed high risk of bias and critically low methodological quality. We observed an association between dental caries experiences and nutritional status since seven SR found an association between obesity/overweight and dental caries; one, an association between underweight and dental caries; and eleven, no associations. The meta-analysis showed divergent results according to the study designs, used indices, and participants’ age group, and were scored as having a very low certainty of evidence. Therefore, based on the high risk of bias, low methodological quality, and very low certainty of evidence of the chosen SR, most studies found no association between children and adolescents’ nutritional status and dental caries experience.

ABSTRACTAimTo evaluate the association between dental caries and nutritional status in a group of Brazilian schoolchildren, from Manaus. The studied population consisted of 197 students (10–12-year-olds) from public schools at Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.Materials and methodsA clinical examination was carried out and the decay-missing-filled-teeth index for primary and permanent teeth (dmft and DMFT) was used to evaluate dental caries. Body mass index Z-score was calculated using variables such as individual height, weight, age, and gender. The nutritional status was classified as underweight, eutrophic, overweight, and obese. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's posttests were used for means’ comparison between groups. The established alpha was 5%.ResultsEighty-one (41.1%) children were caries-free. Five (2.5%) children were underweight; 127 (64.5%) were eutrophic; 49 (24.9%) were overweight; and 16 (8.1%) were obese. The mean dmft/DMFT index was 1.67 (2.05). Obese children had more caries experience than eutrophic and overweight children (p < 0.05).ConclusionOur study demonstrated that dental caries is associated with obesity in school children from Manaus.How to cite this articleVasconcelos K, Evangelista S, et al. Assessing the Association between Dental Caries and Nutritional Status in Children from the Brazilian State of Amazonas. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2019;12(4):293–296.

Background: Good Nutrition is essential for oral and dental health in children. Good eating habits and food preferences are established early in childhood. Oral health problems can effect dietary quality and nutrient intake in another side increase the risk of several systemic diseases., The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation or the effect the of nutritional status in children at age of 5 to16 on the oral health status and dental caries . Materials and Methods: the total sample composed of 153 patients attending the Pedodontic and Preventive Department/College of Dentistry/University of Baghdad, the assessment of nutritional status was performed by using Body Mass Index specific for age and gender according to Chronic Disease and Prevention Center (CDC) growth chart (2000). Ramfjord index teeth were applied to assess oral cleanliness and gingival condition, Dental plaque and Gingival health condition was assessed by using plaque index of Silness and Loe(1964),and gingival index of Loe and Silness( 1963), Calculus index assessment was according to Ramfjord criteria (1959). Dental caries measurement was according to World Health Organization criteria (1997). Results: this study showed no significance in the nutritional status (BMI) of children at 5-16 years of age and plaque index, gingival index, and calculus index, as well as the correlation of significant differences was not found between the nutritional status (BMI) and caries experience. Conclusion: this study reflected that the oral hygiene, gingival health and dental caries were not affected by nutritional status of children at age of 5-16years.

The description of the nutritional status of children under five represents the degree of public health. Indonesia is experiencing multiple nutritional problems, namely the problem of undernutrition has not been completely resolved, the problem of overnutrition (obesity) appears. Nutritional status is influenced by unbalanced energy intake and infectious diseases. This is due to the level of education, knowledge, parenting patterns that are inappropriate and bad environmental sanitation. The biggest problem faced by the community is the low level of knowledge and skills of mothers about nutrition. This study aims to determine the relationship between mother's level of knowledge about nutrition and the nutritional status of children under five in Lembah Sari Village, West Lombok. This type of research is an observational study with a cross sectional approach. The sample in this study were mothers who have toddlers (aged 6-60 months) and their babies, totaling 55 people. Sampling technique with cluster random sampling. The results obtained based on the chi square test showed that there was a significant relationship between the mother's level of knowledge about nutrition and the nutritional status of children under five in Lembah Sari Village, West Lombok Regency with a p-value of 0.015. The results of the analysis of the relationship between the level of knowledge related to nutrition and the nutritional status of children under five, that was found that 7 respondents with less knowledge had poor nutritional status (46.67%). Two respondents with good knowledge had poor nutritional status (5%), while 8 respondents with poor knowledge had good nutritional status (53.33%) and 38 respondents with good knowledge had good nutritional status (95%). Conclusion: there is a relationship between the mother's level of knowledge about nutrition and the nutritional status of children under five in Lembah Sari Village, West Lombok Regency. Suggestion: it is necessary to add other variables that can affect the level of knowledge of mothers and caregivers regarding the nutritional status of children under five years.&#x0D;

One determinant of the quality of Human Resources is nutrition, poor nutritional status can result in developmental failure and physical growth, work productivity and decreased immunity, which can result in pain and even death. Based on Nutritional Status Monitoring in Mulyorejo village in June 2017, there were 16 infants (10.12%) from a total of 158 toddlers. One of the malnutrition is caused by a lack of level of knowledge about balanced nutrition in toddlers' mothers. To find out whether there is a relationship between maternal knowledge about balanced nutrition and nutritional status of children in Mulyorejo Village, Kraton Sub-District, Pasuruan Regency. The method used in this study was an observational analytic cross sectional study, with 38 mothers of infants and toddlers aged 1-5 years. Purposive sampling is a technique used for sampling in this study. Based on the results of the Spearman test, the p value is 0.034 with the correlation coefficient of 0.345, which means that there is a relationship between maternal knowledge of balanced nutrition and the nutritional status of children in Mulyorejo Village, Kraton District, Pasuruan Regency which shows a low level of relationship. There is a relationship between mother's knowledge of balanced nutrition and nutritional status of children in the village of Mulyorejo, Kec. Kraton, Kab. Pasuruan.\Keywords: Knowledge, balanced nutrition, toddler nutritional status.

Background: Tooth decay is still one of most common diseases of childhood, child’s primary teeth are important even though they aretemporary. This study was conducted to assess the physiochemical characteristic of saliva among caries experience preschool children and compared them with caries free matching in age and gender. Then an evaluation was done about these salivary characteristics to dental caries and evaluated the relation of body mass index to dental caries and to salivary variables. Materials and method: After examination 360 children aged 4-5 years of both gender. Caries-experiences was recorded according to dmfs index by (World Health Organization criteria 1987) during pilot study children with caries experience was divided in to three groups according to decay fraction of decay missing filled surfaces index .Mild with decay surfaces 13 and select thirty children with moderate caries experience and compared with thirty caries free children decay missing filled surfaces=0 match in age and gender. Nutritional status of each child was assessed by measuring weight and height to calculate body mass index. Unstimulated saliva collected from sixty child under standardized condition and potential hydrogen and flow rate were measured. Total antioxidant concentration, total protein, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, zinc and copper were measured. Results: Statistically highly significant differences were found in concentration of salivary calcium and inorganic phosphorus between caries-experience and caries free children with higher mean value among caries free group. Statistically significant differences were found in concentration of salivary zinc between groups. Statistically non-significant differences were found in concentration of salivary total antioxidant, total protein, copper and body mass index between caries experience and caries free groups.Salivary flow rate and PH showed statistical non-significant differences between groups. Positive non-significant correlation was found between dmfs index, (ds) fraction of dmfs index and salivary flow rate, total antioxidant and negative correlation with salivary PH, total protein, calcium, phosphorus, zinc and copper. Positive a non-significant correlation was found between BMI, salivary flow rate, PH, total antioxidant, zinc and copper while a negative weak correlation found with dmfs, ds fraction of index and salivary total protein, calcium and inorganic phosphorus in caries experience group. Furthermore a non-significant positive correlation was found between BMI, salivary flow rate, PH, total antioxidant inaddition to that negative weak correlation was found with salivary total protein, calcium inorganic phosphorus, zinc and copper among caries free group. Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that inorganic components of saliva play an important role in reminerlization of incipient caries and there is an inverse association between body mass index and dental caries.

BackgroundMalnutrition when occurs during development period may cause irreversible effect on developing dental tissues leading to dental caries. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the nutritional status...

Background: Nutritional problems in children are complex, both in terms of quantity and quality. Irregular eating habits, plus a lack of nutritional knowledge can affect a child's nutritional status. This study aimed to examine the association between children's nutritional knowledge and nutritional status, and the role of education in forming healthy eating habits. Methods: This was quantitative research with a cross-sectional study design. A total of 30 samples were collected from children aged 5-14 years in the Muara Bungo market area, using a total sampling technique. The research variables were knowledge and nutritional status of children. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: 53.30% of children with poor nutritional knowledge had good nutritional status and 46.70% had poor nutritional status. 40.00% of children with good nutritional knowledge had good nutritional status and 60.00% had poor nutritional status. Bivariate analysis showed no statistically significant association between children’s nutritional knowledge and nutritional status (p = 0.715). Conclusion: Nutritional education, healthy eating patterns, and regular monitoring of children's nutritional status at Posyandu and cross-sectoral collaboration are fundamental to improving children’s nutritional status.

Sugar consumption and dental caries experience in Kenya

AIM: To evaluate the influence of the classification of cerebral palsy CP on the caries experience in children and adolescents, and determine the types of teeth most affected by dental caries. METHODS: A total of 181 individuals with CP, aged 8.30±4.10 years were examined for dental caries diagnosis in primary, mixed and permanent dentitions. The sample consisted of 96 quadriplegic individuals, 56 diplegic, 18 hemiplegic and 11 with choreoathetosis. The groups were compared using Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square tests. Univariate logistic regression models were used to identify whether age was a predictor of caries risk α=5%. RESULTS: The sample was homogeneous as regards sex and age, among patients with quadriplegia, diplegia, hemiplegia and choreoathetosis. Out of the total sample, 51.4% of the individuals were caries free. The overall mean for the dmft and DMFT indices were 1.70±3.30 and 0.70±1.60, respectively. The mean caries experience in primary, mixed and permanent dentitions did not vary significantly according to the CP classification p>0.05. Child´s age was a predictor for dental caries experience p<0.05. CONCLUSIONS: The CP classification did not influence on caries experience, and the teeth most affected by dental caries were the primary and first permanent molars.

Dental caries and malnutrition in preschool children are public health problems with multifactorial etiologies and mechanisms. Teeth and the oral cavity have an important role of nutritional intake. Nutrition is an important factor that may determine the process of growth and development; accordingly an imbalance between intake and the need of nutrition cause malnutrition. Untreated caries is a disease that may cause pain and discomfort, and therefore may affect the weight, quality of life, and growth of children. Untreated caries may decrease chewing ability, which consequently leads to inadequate nutrient intake. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the correlation between dental caries and nutritional status among preschool children aged 4-5 years in Perak Timur village, Surabaya. Ninety-three preschool children were involved from two early childhood education programs (ECEP). Caries were measured using def-index, and nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurement. Assessment of nutritional status was based on the weight/height (W/H) Z-score. There was an inverse linear correlation between dental caries and the nutritional status of children and significantly lower anthropometric outcomes in children at each consecutive group with higher levels of caries. The significancy of Spearman’s test was p=0,000 (p<0,05). The higher the levels of dental caries, the poorer the nutritional status of preschool children.

Background: Nigeria has the highest burden of sickle cell anaemia (SCA) in Africa. Patients with SCA present with life-long complications in addition to growth failure. With comprehensive care, patients with SCA have improved survival and well-being, with some studies reporting overnutrition. This study aims to assess nutritional status and sociodemographic determinants in children with SCA.&#x0D; Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among children aged 1-16years attending the paediatric SCA clinics and their sex and age-matched controls. Anthropometric measurements were carried out to determine their nutritional status, and the data obtained were analyzed using SPSS software. The sociodemographic and relevant clinical information was obtained using a semi-structured questionnaire.&#x0D; Results: The majority (86%) of the children with SCA had normal height and weight, but the mean weight, weight for age z-score (WAZ), body mass index z-score (BMIZ) and height for age z-score (HAZ) were significantly lower than the HbAA controls. The mean WAZ was significantly higher in children from high socioeconomic class (SEC) and those whose mothers had tertiary education than those from lower educational statuses. Similarly, the mean HAZ was significantly higher in children from high SEC, tertiary maternal education and younger children.&#x0D; Conclusion: Most children with SCA have normal nutritional status despite significantly lower nutritional indicators compared to children with HbAA genotype. Higher educational status of mothers and SEC were associated with a significantly higher nutritional status among the subjects.

This study investigates the relationship between diet, medical history, and nutritional status in 48 children aged 3-5 from Kindergarten Tegalasri Village, Blitar Regency. Using observational analysis with a cross-sectional approach, data on eating habits and medical records were collected. The results, analyzed using chi-square tests, indicated no significant correlation between diet or viral disease history and the children's nutritional status. These findings suggest that factors beyond diet and infections may play a more significant role in determining the nutritional status of children in this demographic, highlighting the need for further research and targeted interventions to promote better nutritional outcomes Highlight: Children's Nutrition: Diet and Medical History Impact on Well-being. Cross-sectional Study: Understanding Factors Influencing Nutritional Status in Young Children. Key Keywords: Nutrition, Children, Diet, Medical History, Cross-sectional Study. Keyword: Nutrition, Children, Diet, Medical History, Cross-sectional Study

Assessing Maternal, Environmental and Individual Risk Indicators for Dental Caries in a Population of Children from Queensland, Australia

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to examine the association between parental socioeconomic status (SES) and the experience as well as treatment of dental caries among children aged 9 to 18 years.MethodsData from 1253 children aged 9–18 years from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2012–2013) were analyzed. Parental socioeconomic status was measured using household income level and maternal educational level. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index was used to measure experience of dental caries (DMFT ≥ 1). Non-treatment of dental caries was measured according to whether the participants who experienced dental caries used a dental service at a dental clinic to treat caries during the previous year. Logistic regression was used to investigate the association between parental socioeconomic status and the experience of dental caries as well as the association between parental socioeconomic status and the non-treatment of dental caries among children that have experienced caries.ResultsA total of 808 subjects (64.5 %) experienced dental caries among 1253 participants, and 582 of these 808 subjects (72.0 %) did not receive treatment among those having experience of dental caries. Parental socioeconomic status was not associated with experience of dental caries. However, those from low- and middle-income households were less likely to receive treatment than those from high-income households (odds ratio [OR] 2.11 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.16–3.86], OR 2.14 [95 % CI 1.27–3.62]). In particular, those from low- and middle-income households who had regular dental checkups were more likely to have untreated caries than those from high-income households (OR 3.58 [95 % CI 1.25–10.24]).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the parental household income–related disparities in children’s dental health treatment. Efforts should be made to lower financial barriers to dental health services, particularly among those from low-income households, in order to reduce dental health disparities in the treatment of caries in children.