Relationship between erosive tooth wear and beverage consumption among a group of schoolchildren in Mexico City.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between erosive tooth wear (ETW) and consumption of different kinds of beverages in a group of schoolchildren 11-14 years old in Mexico City.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study in a sample of students (n = 512) in Mexico City. The Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) was used to quantify ETW. Beverage consumption (BC) was determined using a frequency questionnaire; beverages included pure water, natural fruit juices, milk, hot beverages, and soft drinks. Ordinal logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between the presence of ETW and BC.

RESULTS: In total, 45.7% of the schoolchildren showed an initial loss of surface texture (BEWE = 1) and 18.2% a distinct defect involving loss of dental tissue (BEWE ≥ 2) in at least one tooth. For each glass (350 ml) of milk/week, the odds of not having erosive wear (BEWE = 0) versus having an initial loss of surface texture (BEWE = 1) or of having an initial loss of surface texture versus the presence of a defect involving the loss of dental tissue (BEWE ≥ 2) decreased 4% (OR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.99, p = 0.008); for each portion of sweet carbonated beverage consumed (350 ml), the odds increased 3% (OR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.001-1.07, p = 0.046).

CONCLUSION: The intake of milk and milk-based products could be a dietary means of helping prevent ETW, especially if their consumption could replace sweet carbonated drink consumption.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Knowing the impact of beverage consumption on ETW helps to provide suitable recommendations for the prevention and control of ETW in order to promote tooth longevity.