Nutritional patterns and prevalence of dental caries in the armed forces and their families in Tehran Province, Iran

Oral health is one of the components of public health with a significant effect on quality of life (QOL). Dental caries can lead to irreversible damage, pain, public health concerns, loss of self-confidence, and lower QOL. Furthermore, nutrition plays an important role in preventing oral diseases, such as developmental defects, dental caries, oral mucosa pathologies, and periodontal problems. The present study was conducted with the aim to investigate the relationship between nutrition and dental caries in the armed forces personnel and their families in Tehran Province, Iran.

This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 800 armed forces personnel and their families. Individuals referring to the dentistry examination units in 3 ETKA chain stores in the north, middle, and south of Tehran were included in the study. The Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index was used for reporting dental caries. The standard Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to evaluate nutrition intake. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests were used to compare the study groups.

Mean DMFT/dmft in the first, second, third, and fourth quartiles was 2.85, 6.6, 10.85, and 17, respectively, and the mean DMFT/dmft was 9.32. The majority of the study population consisted of married women, 63.4% of the participants brushed their teeth with a toothpaste, and 48.5% brushed their teeth once a day. After adjusting for the confounding factors, carbohydrates, fruits, and lipids showed a significant relationship with the DMFT index.

According to the mean DMFT/dmft in this study, it can be concluded that the prevalence of dental caries in the subjects was moderately severe. According to this study, changes in nutritional patterns and oral health care education are crucial for the Iranian armed forces. A diet with a low carbohydrates and cariogenic fruits content and high lipids content is suggested based on the findings of this study.