Exploring the Diet-decay relation: Mapping Cariogenic Diet, Body Mass Index, and Caries Experience among 12- and 15-Year-Old School Children in Shimla City: A Cross-sectional Study
Nitika Naryal, Vinay Bhardwaj, Shailee Fotedar, Arun Singh Thakur, Shelja Vashisth, Atul SankhyanAbstract
Introduction:
Local dietary practices may be shaped by climatic conditions (carbohydrate-rich foods), plus urbanization and socioeconomic transitions may have increased the accessibility to processed and sugary foods, particularly among schoolchildren, which may lead to high caries experience among a geographically unique population. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the association of cariogenic diet and body mass index (BMI) with dental caries among 12- and 15-year-old schoolchildren in Shimla.
Materials and Methods:
Between May 2024 and October 2024, a cross-sectional study was carried out among students attending government and private schools in Shimla City. Data regarding demographic information, dietary habits, and dentition status were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Statistical tests included the Mann–Whitney test, the Kruskal–Wallis test, Pearson’s Chi-square test,
Results:
Children with a good sweet score had 1.54 times higher odds of experiencing caries compared with those in the excellent category (adjusted odds ratios [aOR] = 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27–1.87;
Conclusion:
The present study demonstrated that dietary sugar exposure was a significant predictor of caries experience among schoolchildren, with caries risk increasing from the excellent to the watch-out categories, whereas BMI may not be a reliable proxy for caries experience.