Relationship between overweight/obesity and dental caries and oral hygiene among secondary-school students in Warsaw. Part I

Abstract

Introduction. Both overweight/obesity and dental caries are referred to as civilisation diseases of the 21st century. Aim. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between caries and oral hygiene and the occurrence of overweight and obesity in secondary-school students. Material and methods. A survey on health status, the most frequently consumed cariogenic products at school and the frequency of toothbrushing was conducted; BMI was calculated; as well as dental examination to assess caries (DMFT/DMFS) and oral hygiene (plaque index – PI) was performed among 141 randomly selected 18-year-old students of three secondary schools in Warsaw. Student’s t-tests, chi-square tests and Spearman’s correlation were used for statistical analysis (p < 0.05). Results. A total of 118 students were included in the study. The mean body weight was 59.53 ± 11.43 kg for women, and 78.57 ± 20.29 kg for men. There were 19 (16.1%) overweight and 3 (2.5%) obese adolescents. Higher BMI was found in men. The intake of cariogenic products was higher among students with a BMI < 25. About 83.3% of overweight and 66.7% of obese adolescents most often brush their teeth twice a day (differences not statistically significant). Caries was present in 112 (94.9%) students. The mean DMFT and DMFS were 6.52 ± 3.80 and 7.81 ± 5.66, and the plaque index was 0.75 ± 0.49. DMFT values were lower in subjects with BMI > 25, and PI was higher in overweight and obese participants (p > 0.05). Conclusions. There was no relationship between BMI and caries or hygiene indices, and no statistically significant differences between BMI and consuming cariogenic products. Individual prevention programmes and good cooperation with general practitioners can help improve the oral health and proper body weight in adolescents.