Body Mass Index and Dental Caries in Children

Background Dental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease with serious implications for individual and public health. Obesity is the most common nutritional problem in children and caries are associated with a large number of negative health outcomes. Dental caries in children is reported to affects their anthropometric outcomes, but the evidence is conflicting. Objectives Based on the differences in the findings of the studies and the possible role of obesity in the pathogenesis of dental caries, the current study aimed to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and dental caries among children aged three to six years. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 400 children aged three to six years were selected through cluster sampling from Yazd kindergartens, Iran. Weight and height were measured using scale and tape measure, while decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) was recorded through intraoral examination using mirror, probe and flashlight. Then the relationship between calculated growth indices z-score (evaluated by world health organization (WHO) Anthro and WHO AnthroPlus software) and DMFT was considered. The results were analysed using SPSS ver. 20 and Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman correlation coefficient and Pearson tests. Results An inverse correlation was found between BMI z-score and DMFT (P = 0.006, r = -0.14). Assessment of the effect of demographic variables showed significant relationship in boys (P = 0.01) and children under five years (P = 0.04). Conclusions It appears that children with a high BMI z-score had lower DMFT and that there is a negative correlation between obesity and tooth decay.