Relationship between tooth loss, nutritional status and consumption of macro and micronutrients in elderly people from southern Brazil

Maintaining a functional natural dentition plays an important role in keeping a satisfactory nutritional status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between oral health conditions determined by the presence of edentulism and the number of missing teeth, nutritional status and consumption of nutrients by the elderly. This cross-sectional study comprised 494 independent elderly of both genders, over 60 years of age, registered at the Brazilian public health service in Londrina, southern Brazil. The data collection included: oral examinations; anthropometric measurements by calculating the Body Mass Index (BMI); analysis of food consumption based on a multiple pass 24-hour dietary recall and a food intake frequency questionnaire; and structured interviews to obtain sociodemographic information. Multiple linear regression, the Fisher's Exact test, chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests, were applied at a 5% significance level. The prevalence of edentulism was 47.3%; this predominated in females, age group from 65 to 74 years, low education level and low/medium economic classification. A larger numberof underweight and fewer number of overweight elderly were recorded among the edentulous versus dentate participants (< 0.0001). Significantly lower consumption of several nutrients, as well as fruit, was recorded among the edentulous group. In particular, carbohydrates, vitamins (B1, B9 and C), and the majority of the minerals studied were associated with a larger number of missing teeth. In conclusion, tooth loss was associated with the food consumption pattern of some macro-and micronutrients and the nutritional status of the Brazilian elderly.

Sweetness Taste Preference Levels and Their Relationship to the Nutritional and Dental Caries Patterns among Brazilian Preschool Children

Objective: To evaluate the sweetness taste preference levels and their relationship with the nutritional and dental caries patterns among preschool children. Material and Methods: The participants of this cross-sectional study were 191 children aged 4 to 5 years, who were regularly attending public Child Education Centers of a city southern Brazil. Children's preference for sugar was evaluated by the Sweet Preference Inventory; caries prevalence, according to the World Health Organization criteria, and nutritional status, by anthropometric weight and stature measurements, in accordance with child growth standards of the World Health Organization. Results: High levels of sweetness preference were identified. The majority of children (67.5%) opted for the most concentrated sucrose solutions. Excess weight was recorded in 27.7% of the preschoolers. The prevalence of caries was 51.8%, with the mean dmf-t equal to 1.92 (± 2.72) and the decayed (c) component responsible for 94.2% of the index. No significant association between sweetness preference and the nutritional or the oral health patterns could be established. In addition, no association between excess weight and dental caries was identified. The diseases studied were only associated with sociodemographic variables. Excess weight was associated with maternal age (p=0.004) and caries experience with family income (p=0.013). Conclusion: No significant associations could be stablished between the sweetness taste preference and the diseases studied, nor between excess weight and dental caries. However, the findings of high patterns of sweet preference, excess weight and untreated caries experience, highlight the need for the implementation of integrated public policies aimed at controlling both nutritional and of oral health problems in the studied population.

Oral health promotion in patients with morbid obesity after gastroplasty: a randomized clinical trial / Promoção de saúde bucal em pacientes com obesidade mórbida após gastroplastia: ensaio clínico randomizado

ABSTRACT Background: The bariatric surgery may have negative repercussions on oral conditions. Aim: To evaluate the impact of oral health educational/preventive program developed with patients submitted to gastroplasties. Method: The sample consisted of 109 patients randomly allocated to two groups: intervention group (IG), where they participated in the oral health promotion program that include multiple educational-preventive approaches; control group (CG), where they received usual care from the bariatric clinic staff, without participation in the program. The oral conditions investigated in the pre-operative and postoperative periods of one month (1M) and six months (6M) were: dental caries, periodontal disease, tooth wear, dental plaque and salivary flow. Results: After bariatric surgery, patients in IG presented: fewer changes in enamel (6M: p=0.004), dentin (6M: p=0.005) and gingival bleeding (6M: p<0.0001), reduction in plaque index (1M, 6M: p<0.0001) and increased salivary flow (6M: p=0.039), when compared with CG. Incipient tooth wear was recorded in both groups (6M: p=0.713). Conclusion: There was a positive impact of the implemented program in the prevention of the main oral health problems in patients who underwent gastroplasties, contributing to their quality of life.

RESUMO Racional: A cirurgia bariátrica pode repercutir negativamente nas condições bucais. Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto de um programa educativo/preventivo em saúde bucal desenvolvido em pacientes submetidos à gastroplastia. Método: A amostra foi constituída por 109 pacientes aleatoriamente alocados em dois grupos: grupo de intervenção (GI), onde participaram do programa de promoção de saúde bucal com abordagens educativo-preventivas; grupo controle (GC), onde receberam cuidado da equipe da clínica, sem participação no programa. As condições bucais investigadas nos períodos pré e pós-operatório de um mês (1M) e seis meses (6M) foram: cárie dentária, doença periodontal, desgaste dentário, placa dentária e fluxo salivar. Resultados: Após a gastroplastia, pacientes do GI apresentaram: menor alteração em esmalte (6M: p=0,004), dentina (6M: p=0,005) e sangramento gengival (6M: p<0,0001); redução no índice de placa (1M, 6M: p<0,0001) e aumento do fluxo salivar (6M: p=0,039), quando comparados aos do GC. Desgaste dentário incipiente foi registrado em ambos os grupos (6M: p=0,713). Conclusão: Houve impacto positivo do programa implementado na prevenção dos principais problemas de saúde bucal em pacientes submetidos à gastroplastia, contribuindo para sua qualidade de vida.