Relationship between Chewing Sugar-free Gum and Dental Caries Status in China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between chewing sugar-free gum (SFG) and dental caries status in China. METHODS: A total of 860 teenagers (aged 12 to 15 years) and 490 adults (aged ≥ 18 years) were recruited using a multistage stratified cluster method from economically developed areas (Beijing, Guangdong) and less economically developed areas (Hubei, Xinjiang). Each participant completed a questionnaire including oral health-related knowledge of SFG and chewing habits of SFG and agreed to undertake a clinical assessment. Potential factors associated with chewing conditions were analysed through a chi-square statistical test. A negative binominal regression analysis was performed to quantify the relationship between dental caries and consumption of SFG. RESULTS: The overall percentage of the survey population who consumed SFG was 43.4%, and SFG-related knowledge and awareness was only 19.4%. For decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth (DMFT), the mean value was 1.63 ± 2.41 and 2.29 ± 3.65 in the chewing group and non-chewing group, respectively. According to the negative binominal regression analysis, the caries status in the SFG chewing group was better than in the non-chewing group (adjusted prevalence rate ratio [PRR] 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.62-0.87). CONCLUSION: The chewing condition and oral health-related knowledge and awareness of SFG is low. Chewing SFG is related to a better dental caries status, so regular consumption of SFG should be recommended when promoting oral health.

Associated Factors of Oral Health-related Quality of Life in Chinese Adolescents Aged 12-15 Years.

adolescents aged 12 to 15 years based on the 4th National Oral Health Survey and to explore its associated factors. METHODS: Students aged 12 to 15 years were recruited using to a multistage stratified random sampling method. All the subjects received oral examination and completed a questionnaire. Information relating to OHRQoL was collected through a Mandarin version of the child oral impacts on daily performances (Child-OIDP) questionnaire. The relationship between the Child-OIDP scores and independent variables was assessed using a Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskal-Wallis test and a multivariate Poisson regression. RESULTS: A total of 89,582 subjects were included in the analysis, of whom 76.6% reported oral impacts in the last 6 months. Eating was the most affected daily performance. The results of the regression analysis showed that factors associated with adolescents' OHRQoL included sex, location of residence, region, only child status, parents' level of education, frequency of sugar consumption, self-perception of general/oral health, dental appointments in the past 12 months, oral health knowledge status, age, decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index and number of teeth with gingival bleeding. CONCLUSION: Oral impacts were common among Chinese adolescents, although most were not so severe. Eating was the most commonly affected performance. Sex, location of residence, region, only child status, parents' level of education, frequency of sugar consumption, selfperception of general/oral health status, dental appointments in the previous 12 months, oral health knowledge status, age, DMFT index and number of teeth with gingival bleeding were found to be associated with OHRQoL.