Abstract
BackgroundTo explore the association between obesity and tooth wear among American adults and the role of sugar-sweetened acidic drinks consumption in explaining that association.MethodsWe analyzed data from 3541 adult participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Obesity was determined using the body mass index and tooth wear was assessed using the modified tooth wear index. Daily intake of four categories of drinks was estimated as the average (drinks/day) of two consecutive 24-h dietary recalls. The association between obesity and number of surfaces with moderate-to-severe tooth wear was assessed in hurdle models adjusting for sociodemographic factors, acid reflux medication, and dental insurance.ResultsOverweight and obese adults had more surfaces with moderate-to-severe tooth wear than those with normal body size, after adjusting for confounders. The consumption of sugar-sweetened acidic drinks explained part, but not all the above association. More specifically, the estimate for obesity was fully attenuated, whereas the estimate for overweight was slightly attenuated but remained significant.ConclusionObesity was positively associated with tooth wear in American adults. This association was only partially accounted for by the consumption of sugar-sweetened acidic drinks, a common risk factor for both conditions.Practical implicationsDentists must be aware of the health consequences of sugar-sweetened acidic drinks and advocate for reduction in consumption and/or substitution with healthier alternatives.
Highlights
Tooth wear is the loss of dental hard tissues resulting of the interaction between teeth and other materials, tooth-to-tooth contact, or dissolution of hard tissues by acidic substances not caused by bacteria [1, 2]
Results are still contradicting as one study in England showed that obese children were more likely to have erosive tooth wear than normal weight children [8], whereas studies in the USA [7] and Brazil [9] reported no association between the two conditions
The aim of this study was to explore the association between obesity and tooth wear among American adults and the role of the consumption of sugarsweetened acidic drinks in explaining that association
Summary
Tooth wear is the loss of dental hard tissues resulting of the interaction between teeth and other materials (abrasion), tooth-to-tooth contact (attrition), or dissolution of hard tissues by acidic substances not caused by bacteria (erosion) [1, 2]. A few studies have investigated the association between obesity and tooth wear [7,8,9,10], with most evidence coming from studies in children [7,8,9]. Results are still contradicting as one study in England showed that obese children were more likely to have erosive tooth wear than normal weight children [8], whereas studies in the USA [7] and Brazil [9] reported no association between the two conditions. To explore the association between obesity and tooth wear among American adults and the role of sugar-sweetened acidic drinks consumption in explaining that association
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