Risk factors for dental caries: A case study in peatlands and non-peatlands of West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

The prevalence of dental caries in peatlands and non-peatlands in West Kalimantan require preventive acts based on its natural conditions and the behavior of local communities. The objective was to analyse risk factors for dental caries in communities living in peatlands and non-peatlands in West Kalimantan. The research is a causal comparative study with cross-sectional approach. The samples were chosen by purposive sampling technique among adolescents aged 17-27 years, who were domiciled in Pontianak City (peatland) and Bengkayang (non-peatland) all their lives. The results showed that dental caries is significantly correlated with debris in peatlands (rs = 0.289). On non-peatlands, dental caries is correlated with drinking water phosphate (rs = 0.313) and calculus (rs = 0.034). In West Kalimantan, dental caries is significantly correlated with drinking water minerals (fluoride rs = -0.243; phosphate rs = 0.260), drinking water pH (rs = 0.235), behavior (rs = -0.327), and debris (rs = 0.240). The risk factors for dental caries in peatlands and non-peatlands in West Kalimantan are pH and drinking water minerals (fluoride and calcium), debris, calculus, and behavior.

Effect of Drinking Water Fluoride on Gingivitis and Caries: A Study in Peat and Non-Peat Land: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

Aim: Humans get fluoride from food and water available in their environment. The source of clean water in peatlands comes from rainwater with a low mineral content, especially fluoride. The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between the fluoride level in drinking water and salivary fluoride levels, as well as their potential impact on dental and oral health conditions. Materials and Methods: It is a causal-comparative study with a cross-sectional approach at the Health Polytechnics of Pontianak and Yogyakarta. The population were indigenous people in peat land (Pontianak) and non-peat land (Yogyakarta). The data were pH and mineral content in drinking water, saliva, the number of Streptococcus mutans colonies, dental caries rates, and gingivitis. Results: Drinking water fluoride is only significantly correlated with salivary fluoride on non-peat land. If these data are combined, it can be seen that drinking water fluoride is positively correlated (P < 0.05; CI 95%) with pH water, fluoride water, and pH saliva. Increased levels of fluoride in drinking water were negatively correlated with gingivitis, dental caries, and S. mutans. Conclusion: Drinking water fluoride is negatively correlated with dental caries and gingivitis in peatland and non-peatland communities, but would be significantly associated with dental caries and gingivitis if both peatland and non-peatland data were analyzed together. This is due to the low content of fluoride in the drinking water of peatland. Therefore, it is necessary to add fluoride gel to the teeth to prevent the development of dental caries.