Diet and dental erosion in young people in south-east Brazil.
BACKGROUND
The regular consumption of acidic foods and drinks may be associated with dental erosion, and soft drink consumption appears to be increasing both in developed and developing countries. Dentists are aware that an acidic diet can contribute to the development of erosion; however, there may be confusion within the profession concerning the general health message of eating five portions of fruits and vegetables each day.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate associations between dental erosion and the consumption of acidic foods and beverages in schoolchildren in south-east Brazil. The objective was to gather information, by means of a dietary questionnaire, on frequency of intake and patterns of consumption of acidic foods and drinks in a group of schoolchildren. The hypothesis was that the experience of dental erosion among the study sample was associated with the frequency and pattern of consumption of soft drinks, fruit juices, fruits, and yogurt.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Três Corações, south-east Brazil. A sample of 458 schoolchildren, mean age 13.8 (SD 0.39) years, completed the study. Information about potential dietary risk factors for dental erosion was collected through a questionnaire survey completed by the schoolchildren. For the dental examinations, the subjects were examined for dental erosion in a school room. Associations between dental erosion and the variables under study were investigated through processes of bivariate and multivariate analyses. The statistical significance level was set at 5%.


RESULTS
Analysis of the questionnaire surveys showed that the frequency of consumption of sugared carbonated drinks was the only variable independently associated with the erosive process, with subjects who had a daily consumption of such drinks having a greater likelihood of having erosion (P = 0.015, odds ratio 1.752, 95% confidence interval 1.116-2.750).


CONCLUSIONS
Of all tested factors in this sample of schoolchildren the consumption of sugared carbonated drinks is most associated with dental erosion.
Waterhouse
Paula J
PJ
The School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. p.j.waterhouse@ncl.ac.uk
Auad
Sheyla M
SM
Nunn
June H
JH
Steen
Ian N
IN
Moynihan
Paula J
PJ
D000143:Acids; D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015930:Diet Records; D004037:Diet, Cariogenic; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
D000143:Acids