Risk indicators associated with dental erosion among Jordanian school children aged 12–14 years of age

Abstract

To identify potential risk indicators of dental erosion (DE) among 12- to 14-year-old Jordanian school children. A random cross-sectional sample was selected from Amman, Irbid, and Al-Karak governorates. A weighted multistage random sampling system was used to yield 3812, 12- to 14-year-old school children from 81 schools. The study utilized a self-reported questionnaire of factors reported in the literature and thought to be associated with DE. Full mouth recording using the tooth wear index modified by Millward etal. (1994) was performed by a single calibrated examiner. Logistic regression analysis defined the risk indicators that were simultaneously associated with DE with geographical location, medical condition including frequent mouth dryness, and having frequent bouts of vomiting or using a cortisol inhaler, dietary habits including consumption of carbonated beverages, lemon, sour candies, and sports drinks, keeping soft drinks in the mouth for a long time, brushing teeth following soft beverages or drinking lemon juice at bed time. Dental erosion is a multifactorial condition in which mouth dryness, vomiting, cortisol inhaler use, keeping soft drinks in the mouth, drinking beverages at bed time, consumption of lemon, sour candies, and having confectionary as snacks are risk indicators, and area of residence are all potential factors.