Evaluation of the effect of cariogenic food consumption on dental caries (DMFT) in the population over 35 years old based on the data of the Azar cohort study.

Abstract

Introduction: Dental caries is one of the most common oral diseases, which has a multifactorial nature. Caries are the result of a series of interactions between tooth structure, dental plaque and cariogenic food. Few studies have been conducted on the relationship between the consumption of sugary foods and the incidence of dental caries in adults. Considering that comprehensive information has been collected in various fields including food consumption and oral health in the Azar cohort study, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of cariogenic food consumption on dental caries (DMFT index) in the adult population over 35 years old based on the data of the Azar cohort study. Methods and Materials: In the present study, the data related to cariogenic food consumption and the DMFT index collected in the basic phase of the Azar cohort study, have been analyzed. Azar cohort study was started in 2013 in Shabestar city among about 15000 adults aged 35-70. Most of the data has been completed based on four questionnaires with interviews. The level of dental caries based on the DMFT index was also performed according to the national protocol of the Persian cohort by a trained person. In the present study, cariogenic food was divided into two groups: “free sugars” and “grains and starches”. Negative binomial regression analysis with loglink was used to analyze the relationship between the DMFT index and consumption of free sugars, grains and starches and the number of daily meals. In addition to examining the results in the unadjusted regression model (without adjusting the effect of confounding variables), the first adjusted regression model was used to assess the effect of confounding variables such as frequency of tooth brushing, socio-economic status, level of education, marital status, smoking and alcoholic consumption, BMI index, diabetes, high blood pressure, age and sex. Variables with P<0.2 were included in the second regression model. Results: A total of 8479 people were included in the study and had an average DMFT of 15.68. The results of this research showed that after adjusting the effect of confounding variables, there was a positive significant relationship between the DMFT index and the consumption of free sugars. Individuals who consumed a large amount of free sugars (more than or equal to 56.68 grams per day), had higher DMFT. No significant relationship was observed between the DMFT index and the amount of grains and starches consumption, as well as the daily meals. Conclusion: High consumption of free sugars in the daily diet will likely increase the DMFT index, while there is no relationship between the amount of grains and starches consumption and the number of daily meals with DMFT.