Sociodemographic and dietary factors in relation to dental health among Greek adolescents

Abstract

In the context of a project aiming to assess risk factors affecting health status of Greek adolescents, 380 adolescents aged 12-17 years were randomly selected from two rural high schools of similar socioeconomic status, and from two urban schools of different socioeconomic level, namely urban/lower and urban/ higher. Dental examinations were carried out according to WHO diagnostic criteria; oral hygiene habits were recorded through personal interviews; and diet was assessed through interviewer-administered, semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires. The percentage of caries-free adolescents varied from 24.3 in the age group of 12-13 years to 13.2 in the age group 16-17 years; mean (SE) DMFT values were 3.7 (0.3) in the younger age group and 5.9 (0.4) in the older age group whereas mean (SE) DMFS values were respectively 5.6 (0.5) and 9.9 (0.9). Multiple regression analysis-derived results showed that dental health, measured through either DMFT or DMFS indices, was significantly better among younger and male adolescents; among higher socioeconomic class urban residents; among those brushing their teeth at least once per day; and among those who had better school performance. There was evidence that intake of vegetables and milk products was associated with lower DMFS and DMFT indices, whereas there was a non-significant tendency for sugar intake to be associated with higher values of these indices. In contemporary Greek society there are substantial social inequalities with respect to dental health; these are due, in part, to differences in oral hygiene habits and patterns of dietary intakes. High risk groups should be identified among the underprivileged for targeted health education efforts and delivery of more intensive dental care services.