Fewer Cavities Found In Overweight Kids, New Study Shows

[Admin]

Fewer Cavities Found In Overweight Kids, New Study Shows

Contrary to conventional wisdom, overweight children have fewer cavities and healthier teeth compared to their normal weight peers, according to a study published in this month's issue of Community Dentistry & Oral Epidemiology.

Surprised researchers at the Eastman Dental Center, part of the University of Rochester Medical Center, conducted a secondary analysis of nearly 18,000 children who participated in two separate National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES III and NHANES 99-02).

The study found no differences in rates of caries (tooth decay) among children ages 2-5 in all weight ranges, while children ages 6-18 who were considered overweight and at risk for becoming overweight showed a decreased risk of caries compared to their normal weight peers.

"We expected to find more oral disease in overweight children of all ages, given the similar causal factors that are generally associated with obesity and caries," said Eastman Dental Center's Dorota Kopycka-Kedzierawski, DDS, MPH, the lead author. "Our findings raise more questions than answers. For example, are overweight children eating foods higher in fat rather than cavity-causing sugars? Are their diets similar to normal weight peers but lead more sedentary lifestyles? Research to analyze both diet and lifestyle is needed to better understand the results."



The study defined overweight children as being at the 95th or higher percentile for their age and sex; children at the 85th or higher percentile and less than 95th percentile for their age and sex were defined as at risk for becoming overweight.

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A world leader in residency training and research initiatives, the Eastman Dental Center each year treats thousands of Rochester-area patients by providing a full range of general and specialized dentistry including pediatrics, periodontology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics and prosthodontics. Established in 1941, the Eastman Dental Center is the only major post doctoral dental education, research and clinical institution in the U.S. within an academic medical center.

Source: Karen Black
University of Rochester Medical Center

[MegoApople]

Just wanted to add,

I have stopped my tooth sensitivity with bone broths. But within a few days of not consuming the broth it all comes back again.

And I LOVE the findings of Dr. Melvin Page as well. He found that when the calcium to phosphorus ratio is in a proportion of 10 to 4 then cavities do not occur. And that blood sugar should be at 85 give or take 5 points.



But how does a Mother measure that daily ???

[dylanmorris]

The finding is extremely odd but I also noticed that to my nephews and nieces that those who are on the heavy side seem to have better sets of teeth than those who are lighter on their weight.Odd but fascinating at the same time.