Evidence that dental status affects diet is equivocal. The hypothesis of this study was that diet was affected by dental status. The objective was to assess the relationship between numbers of teeth and diet and nutritional status in US adult civilians without prostheses. We examined 6985 NHANES (1988–1994) participants. Data included socio-economics, demographics, dental status, and diet and nutritional status. Dietary data were obtained from food frequency questionnaires and 24-hour dietary recall. Serum levels of beta carotene, folate, and vitamin C were measured with isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography. The population was classified by numbers of teeth. Covariance and Satterthwaite F-adjusted statistical comparisons were made between tooth groupings and the fully dentate population. Multilinear regression models adjusted for covariates. People with fewer than 28 teeth had significantly lower intakes of carrots, tossed salads, and dietary fiber than did fully dentate people, and lower serum levels for beta carotene, folate, and vitamin C. Dental status significantly affects diet and nutrition.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Alaimo K, McDowell MA, Briefel RR, Bischof AM, Caughman CR, Loria CM, et al. -1994-. Dietary intake of vitamins, minerals, and fiber of persons ages 2 months and over in the United States: Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Phase 1, 1988–91. National Center for Health Statistics. Adv Data258:1–28.
2.
Alaimo K, Briefel RR, Frongillo EA Jr, Olson CM -1998-. Food insufficiency exists in the United States: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey -NHANES III-. Am J Public Health88:419–426.
3.
Aukes JN, Kayser AF, Felling AJ -1988-. The subjective experience of mastication in subjects with shortened dental arches. J Oral Rehabil15:321–324.
4.
Basu TK, Schorah CJ -1982-. Vitamin C reserves and requirements in health and disease. In: Vitamin C in health and disease. Basu TK, Schorah CJ, editors. London, UK: Croom Helm, AVI Publishing, pp. 61–92.
5.
Block G -2002-. Ascorbic acid, blood pressure, and the American diet. Ann NY Acad Sci959:180–187.
6.
Drury TF, Snowden CB, Kingman A, Kleinman DV, Lewis B -1996-. An overview of the oral health component of the 1988–1991 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey -NHANES III, Phase 1-. J Dent Res75:620–630.
7.
Drury TF, Garcia I, Adesanya M -1999-. Socioeconomic disparities in adult oral health in the United States. Ann NY Acad Sci896:322–324.
8.
Ezzati TM, Massey JT, Waksberg J, Chu A, Maurer KR -1992-. Sample design: Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat2:1–35.
9.
Feldman RS, Alman J, Muench ME, Chauncey HH -1984-. Longitudinal stability and masticatory function of human dentition. Gerodontology3:107–113.
10.
Hunter D -1998-. Biochemical indicators of dietary intake. In: Nutrition epidemiology. 2nd ed. Willet W, editor. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 174–243.
11.
Joshipura KJ, Willett WC, Douglass CW -1996-. The impact of edentulousness on food and nutrient intake. J Am Dent Assoc127:459–467.
12.
Krall E, Hayes C, Garcia R -1998-. How dentition status and masticatory function affect nutrient intake. J Am Dent Assoc129:1261–1269.
13.
Leake JL -1990-. An index of chewing ability. J Public Hlth Dent50:262–267.
14.
Lee JS, Weyant RJ, Corby P, Kritchevsky SB, Harris TB, Rooks R, et al. -2004-. Edentulism and nutritional status in a biracial sample of well-functioning, community-dwelling elderly: the health, aging, and body composition study. Am J Clin Nutr79:295–302.
15.
Locker D, Slade G -1993-. Oral health and the quality of life among older adults: the Oral Health Impact Profile. J Can Dent Assoc59:830–838.
16.
National Center for Health Statistics -1994-. Plan and operation of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–94. Vital Health Stat1 -32-:1–40.
17.
National Center for Health Statistics -1996-. Analytic and reporting guidelines: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, NHANES III -1988–94-. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
18.
Nowjack-Raymer RE, Sheiham A -2003-. Association of edentulism and diet and nutrition in US adults. J Dent Res82:122–126.
19.
Patterson BH, Block G, Rosenberger WF, Pee D, Kahle LL -1990-. Fruit and vegetable consumption in the American diet: data from the NHANES II survey. Am J Public Health80:1443–1449.
Ranta K, Tuominen R, Paunio I, Seppanen R -1988-. Dental status and intake of food items among an adult Finnish population. Gerodontics4:32–35.
22.
Shah BV, Barnwell BG, Bieler GS -1997-. SUDAAN user’s manual. Research Triangle Park, NC: Research Triangle Institute.
23.
Sheiham A, Steele JG, Marcenes W, Finch S, Walls AWG -1999-. The impact of oral health on stated ability to eat certain food; findings from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey of Older People in Great Britain. Gerodontology16:11–20.
24.
Sheiham A, Steele JG, Marcenes W, Lowe C, Finch S, Bates CJ, et al. -2001-. The relationship among dental status, nutrient intake, and nutritional status in older people. J Dent Res80:408–413.
25.
Slade GD, Spencer AJ, Locker D, Hunt RJ, Strauss RP, Beck JD -1996-. Variation in the social impact of oral conditions among older adults in South Australia, Ontario, and North Carolina. J Dent Res75:1439–1450.
26.
Steele JG, Sheiham A, Marcenes W, Walls AWG -1998-. National Diet and Nutrition Survey: people aged 65 years and over. Vol. 2. Report of the oral health survey. London: The Stationery Office.
27.
Steinmetz KA, Potter JD -1996-. Vegetables, fruit and cancer prevention: a review. J Am Diet Assoc96:1027–1039.
28.
US Department of Health and Human Services -2000-. Healthy people 2010. Conference ed. Vol. II. Washington, DC.
29.
Wagenknecht LE, Burke GL, Perkins LL, Haley NJ, Friedman GD -1992-. Misclassification of smoking status in the CARDIA study: a comparison of self-report with serum cotinine levels. Am J Public Health82:33–36.
30.
WHO -2003-. Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases. Report of the joint WHO/FAO expert consultation. WHO Technical Report Series. No. 916 -TRS916-. Geneva: WHO.
31.
Willett WC, Stampfer MJ, Underwood BA, Taylor JO, Hennekens CH -1983-. Vitamins A, E, and carotene: effects of supplementation on their plasma levels. Am J Clin Nutr38:559–566.
32.
Witter DJ, van Palenstein Helderman WH, Creugers NHJ, Kayser AF -1999-. The shortened dental arch concept and its implications for oral health care. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol27:249–258.
