Faculty Collaboration Database

The relationship between consumption of beverages and tooth wear among adults in the United States. J Public Health Dent 2015;75(4):274-81

Date

04/29/2015

Pubmed ID

25919191

DOI

10.1111/jphd.12096

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84959167478 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   21 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence and severity of tooth wear (TW) and its relationship with consumption of beverages among adults in the United States.

METHODS: The National Health and Nutrition Examinations Survey data for 2003-2004 was analyzed. TW was defined as "wear on at least one surface of at least one examined tooth." Drink/juice consumption was ascertained via a Food Frequency Questionnaire processed with Diet*Calc software to obtain the average daily consumption frequency for all queried drinks and juice categories including milk. Survey-weighted descriptive and multivariable analyses with interaction terms were performed.

RESULTS: Our study sample consisted of 3,773 adults (aged 20 and above). Eighty percent of the subjects had evidence of TW, and soft drinks were the most consumed beverage. Significant interactions between the effects of age, gender, and race/ethnicity on TW were found (P < 0.001). After adjustment for demographic factors, consumption of fruit drinks was found to be significantly associated with the severity [odds ratio (OR) = 1.32 and 1.42], but not prevalence of TW. However, this trend was reversed for grape juice consumption (OR = 0.34, 0.41).

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that a substantial proportion of adults had evidence of TW, which was affected by demographic factors in a complex way. Fruit drinks consumption in adults was associated with the severity of TW, but not with the prevalence of TW after adjusting for demographics. These findings are important for the development of appropriate treatment guidelines, public policy, and programs aimed at reducing TW in adults.

Author List

Okunseri C, Wong MC, Yau DT, McGrath C, Szabo A

Authors

Christopher Okunseri DDS,MS Associate Professor and Director in the Clinical Services department at Marquette University
Aniko Szabo PhD Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Beverages
Female
Humans
Male
Nutrition Surveys
Tooth Wear
United States
Young Adult