Abstract
Aim
This was to explore the association between dental caries and body mass index (BMI) by conducting a cross-sectional study of a sample of preschool children from a major Greek city.
Methods
The sample consisted of 2180 children aged 2.5–5.9 years from 33 private day care centres of Thessaloniki. The examinations were performed on site in ample day light by one examiner using disposable dental mirrors and a penlight. Oral examinations included recording of dental caries by dmfs index. Subject’s height and weight were measured using a portable measuring unit and a digital scale, respectively.
Results
The overall prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese children in each BMI-based weight category was 11.8, 72.2, 12.8, and 3.2 %, respectively. The mean age of the total sample was 50.09 (±10.28) months, mean dmfs was 0.36 (±1.9) and the caries-free children were 90.0 %. Overweight children were 1.36 times and obese children 1.99 times more likely to have higher dmfs than normal weight children. The mean dmfs values of underweight children did not significantly differ than that of children with normal weight. The relatively higher dmfs of the obese and overweight children was mostly evident in the older (60–71 months) age group.
Conclusions
Caries prevalence in this sample of Greek children attending private day care centres was low. Overweight and obese preschool children were at higher risk of dental caries than normal- and underweight children.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bafti LS, Hashemipour MA, Poureslami H, Hoseinian Z. Relationship between body mass index and tooth decay in a population of 3-6-year-old children in Iran. Int J Dent. 2015. doi:10.1155/2015/126530.
Bagherian A, Sadeghi M. Association between dental caries and age-specific body mass index in preschool children of an Iranian population. Indian J Dent Res. 2013;24:66–70.
Bhoomika W, Ramakrishna Y, Munshi AK. Relationship between severe early childhood caries and body mass index. J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2013;37:235–42.
Boka V, Trikaliotis A, Kotsanos N, Karagiannis V. Dental caries and oral health-related factors in a sample of Greek preschool children. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2013;14:363–8.
Bolin AK, Bolin A, Alfredsson L. Children’s dental health in Europe. Caries treatment need in 5- and 12-year-old children from eight EU countries. Acta Odontol Scand. 1996;54:355–61.
Cattaneo A, Monasta L, Stamatakis E, et al. Overweight and obesity in infants and pre-school children in the European Union: a review of existing data. Obes Rev. 2010;11:389–98.
Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH. Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. BMJ. 2000;320:1240–3.
Cole TJ, Flegal KM, Nicholls D, Jackson AA. Body mass index cut offs to define thinness in children and adolescents: international survey. BMJ. 2007;335:194.
Edalat A, Abbaszadeh M, Eesvandi M, Heidari A. The relationship of severe early childhood caries and body mass index in a group of 3- to 6-year-old children in Shiraz. J Dent Shiraz. 2014;15:68–73.
Gerdin EW, Angbratt M, Aronsson K, Eriksson E, Johansson I. Dental caries and body mass index by socio-economic status in Swedish children. Commun Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2008;36:459–65.
Granville-Garcia AF, de Menezes VA, de Lira PI, Ferreira JM, Leite-Cavalcanti A. Obesity and dental caries among preschool children in Brazil. Rev Salud Publica Bogota. 2008;10:788–95.
Harris R, Nicoll AD, Adair PM, Pine CM. Risk factors for dental caries in young children: a systematic review of the literature. Commun Dent Health. 2004;21:71–85.
Hayden C, Bowler JO, Chambers S, et al. Obesity and dental caries in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Commun Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2013;41:289–308.
Hong L, Ahmed A, McCunniff M, Overman P, Mathew M. Obesity and dental caries in children aged 2–6 years in the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002. J Public Health Dent. 2008;68:227–33.
Hooley M, Skouteris H, Boganin C, Satur J, Kilpatrick N. Body mass index and dental caries in children and adolescents: a systematic review of literature published to 2011. Syst Rev. 2004. doi:10.1186/2046-4053-1-57.
Kopycka-Kedzierawski DT, Auinger P, Billings RJ, Weitzman M. Caries status and overweight in 2- to 18-year-old US children: findings from national surveys. Commun Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2008;36:157–67.
Kotanidou EP, Grammatikopoulou MG, Spiliotis BE, et al. Ten-year obesity and overweight prevalence in Greek children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 2001–2010 data. Hormones Athens. 2013;12:537–49.
Li LW, Wong HM, Peng SM, McGrath CP. Anthropometric measurements and dental caries in children: a systematic review of longitudinal studies. Adv Nutr. 2015;6:52–63.
Macek MD, Mitola DJ. Exploring the association between overweight and dental caries among US children. Pediatr Dent. 2006;28:375–80.
Mantonanaki M, Koletsi-Kounari H, Mamai-Homata E, Papaioannou W. Prevalence of dental caries in 5-year-old Greek children and the use of dental services: evaluation of socioeconomic, behavioural factors and living conditions. Int Dent J. 2013;63:72–9.
Marshall TA, Eichenberger-Gilmore JM, Broffitt BA, Warren JJ, Levy SM. Dental caries and childhood obesity: roles of diet and socioeconomic status. Commun Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2007;35:449–58.
Martins-Júnior PA, Vieira-Andrade RG, Corrêa-Faria P, et al. Impact of early childhood caries on the oral health-related quality of life of preschool children and their parents. Caries Res. 2013;47:211–8.
Norberg C, Hallström Stalin U, Matsson L, Thorngren-Jerneck K, Klingberg G. Body mass index (BMI) and dental caries in 5-year-old children from southern Sweden. Commun Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2012;40:315–22.
Oulis CJ, Tsinidou K, Vadiakas G, et al. Caries prevalence of 5, 12 and 15-year-old Greek children: a national pathfinder survey. Commun Dent Health. 2012;29:29–32.
Sharma A, Hegde AM. Relationship between body mass index, caries experience and dietary preferences in children. J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2009;34:49–52.
Sheller B, Churchill SS, Williams BJ, Davidson B. Body mass index of children with severe early childhood caries. Pediatr Dent. 2009;31:216–21.
Trikaliotis A, Boka V, Kotsanos N, Karagiannis V, Hassapidou M. Dmfs and BMI in preschool Greek children. An epidemiological study. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2011;12:176–8.
Vania A, Parisella V, Capasso F, et al. Early childhood caries underweight or overweight, that is the question. Eur J Paediatr Dent. 2011;12:231–5.
Vázquez-Nava F, Vázquez-Rodríguez EM, Saldívar-González AH, et al. Association between obesity and dental caries in a group of preschool children in Mexico. J Public Health Dent. 2010;70:124–30.
Yen CE, Hu SW. Association between dental caries and obesity in preschool children. Eur J Paediatr Dent. 2013;14:185–9.
World Health Organisation: Global Status Report on Noncommunicable Diseases. WHO2014. http://www.who.int/nmh/publications/ncd-status-report-2014/en. Accessed 20 Aug 2015.
Zhou Y, Yang JY, Lo EC, Lin HC. The contribution of life course determinants to early childhood caries: a 2-year cohort study. Caries Res. 2012;46:87–94.
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank all the children, their parents and the kindergarten principals and staff for their cooperation in carrying out this study, as well as Dr. V. Boka for help in examination and recording procedures.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pikramenou, V., Dimitraki, D., Zoumpoulakis, M. et al. Association between dental caries and body mass in preschool children. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 17, 171–175 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-016-0222-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-016-0222-3