An investigation of bottled water use and caries in the mixed dentition.
OBJECTIVE
Bottled water consumption in the United States has greatly increased in the past decade. Because the majority of commercial bottled water is low in fluoride, there is the potential for an increase in dental caries. In these secondary data analyses, associations between bottled water use and dental caries were explored.


METHODS
Subjects (n = 413) are in the Iowa Fluoride Study, which included dental examinations of the primary (approximately aged 5) and early erupting permanent (approximately aged 9) dentitions by trained dentist examiners. Permanent tooth caries and primary second molar increments were related to bottled water use using logistic and negative binomial regression models. All models were adjusted for age and the frequency of toothbrushing.


RESULTS
Bottled water use in this cohort was fairly limited (approximately 10 percent). While bottled water users had significantly lower fluoride intakes, especially fluoride from water, there were no significant differences found in either permanent tooth caries (P = 0.20 and 0.91 for prevalence and D(2+)FS, respectively) or primary second molar caries (P = 0.94 and 0.74 for incidence and d(2+)fs increment, respectively). Results for smooth surfaces differed somewhat from those for pit and fissure surfaces, but neither showed significant differences related to bottled water use.


CONCLUSIONS
While bottled water users had significantly lower fluoride intakes, this study found no conclusive evidence of an association with increased caries. Further study is warranted, preferably using studies designed specifically to address this research question.
Broffitt
Barbara
B
Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA. barbara-broffitt@uiowa.edu
Levy
Steven M
SM
Warren
John J
JJ
Cavanaugh
Joseph E
JE
D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D003818:Dentition, Mixed; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D008900:Mineral Waters