title: Dental erosion and its association with diet in Libyan schoolchildren.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate any association between dental erosion and its potential dietary risk factors in a group of schoolchildren in Benghazi, Libya.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of 12-year-old schoolchildren in 36 randomly selected schools completed a questionnaire to provide dietary data and underwent dental examination. Dental erosion was assessed using UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2000) criteria. Associations between erosion and dietary variables under study were investigated through processes of bivariate and multivariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 791 schoolchildren dentally examined, 40.8% had dental erosion; erosion into enamel affecting 32.5%, into dentine affecting 8% and into pulp affecting 0.3% of subjects. Bivariate analysis showed frequency of fruit-based sugary drink intake was statistically significantly and positively associated with erosion (p=0.006, Odds Ratio; 1.498, 95% CI; 1.124, 1.996) as was the length of time taken to consume acidic drinks (p≠0.005, Odds Ratio; 1.593, 95%CI; 1.161, 2.186). Additionally, multivariate analysis showed frequency of consumption of fruit other than bananas, sugared tea with milk and flavoured milk to also be positively associated with erosion (p=<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this group of Libyan 12-year-olds, frequency of consumption of fruit-based sugary drinks and length of time taken to consume acidic drinks were the primary statistically significant positive risk factors for dental erosion.
authors: Centre for Oral Health Research, School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, England.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Huew
authors: P J
authors: PJ
authors: Waterhouse
authors: P J
authors: PJ
authors: Moynihan
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Kometa
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Maguire
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001628:Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002638:Chewing Gum / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000473:pathology; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D060766:Drinking Water; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008002:Libya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013662:Tea; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D002638:Chewing Gum; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D060766:Drinking Water; D013662:Tea