Interrelation between oral health and general well-being among Finnish and Turkish pre-adolescents

Objectives: Because evidence on the interaction between oral health and general well-being is increasing, the present study’s aim was to assess the interrelation between oral health, self-esteem, and obesity among Finnish (FP) and Turkish (TP) pre-adolescents.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of FP and TP, 10- to 12-year-olds, was carried out with questionnaires and oral health data, in addition to  BMI-for-age international standard growth charts developed recently by WHO (2007). The associations between body mass index (BMI), number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT), Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPI=0, healthy; CPI=1, gingival bleeding; CPI= 2, calculus), and self-esteem were assessed by Chi-square tests, factor analysis, and Spearman correlation test.

Results: FP’s oral health (67%, DMFT=0; 31%, CPI=0; 38%; CPI=1; 31%, CPI= 2) was better than that of TPs (16%, DMFT=0; 1%, CPI=0; 38%; CPI=1, 47%; 52%, CPI= 2), (P<0.05). FP compared to TP were more frequently non-obese (80% vs. 72%, 5th percentile<BMI-for age<85th percentile), (P<0.05) but reported similar levels of high self-esteem (respectively, 44% vs. 40%), (P>0.05). For FP, one factor explaining 31% of the total variance indicated the positive relation between non-obesity, DMFT=0, CPI=0, and high self-esteem. Two factors were retained in the factor analysis for TP, explaining 59% of the total variance. Factor1 identified the clustering between high self-esteem and DMFT=0. Factor2 revealed the interrelation between obesity and CPI=1, and between non-obesity and CPI=2. The positive correlation between Factor1 and Factor2 (r_s= 0.501, P= 0.001) indicated that TPs with DMFT>0 and low self-esteem were more likely to be obese and to have CPI=1.

Conclusion: The interrelation between oral health, self-esteem, and obesity found among FPs and TPs emphasize the need for a holistic approach to promote better general well-being and oral health in pre-adolescents.