Influence of overweight/obesity, socioeconomic status, and oral hygiene on caries in primary dentition.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to investigate possible influences of overweight (OW)/obesity on caries in primary dentition. Socioeconomic status (SES) and quality of oral hygiene were also considered.

METHODS: In the present study, 1628 children between the ages of 6 months and 9 years were included. In addition to dental examinations regarding the decayed, missing, filled teeth (dmft) index in primary dentition and the evaluation of oral hygiene, the body mass index standard deviation score (BMI SDS) was determined, and SES was recorded.

RESULTS: The presence of OW/obesity was associated with higher caries prevalence (P < 0.001). A lower SES and non-optimal oral hygiene were also associated with increased dmft. The Poisson regression also showed a significantly higher risk in the combination of a high SES and OW/obesity (βlow-high  = 0.21, P = 0.01). The increase was evident in both good and poor oral hygiene. In contrast, there was no difference between the lower and middle social strata (βlow-medium  = 0.03, P = 0.6). With increasing age, the BMI influence decreased (βage: BMI SDS  = -0.06, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: BMI, oral hygiene, and SES are important factors in caries prevalence. In the highest social class, however, increased body weight has an adverse effect regardless of oral hygiene.