The Relationship between Alternative Healthy Eating Index and Dental Health among Health Care Workers: A Cohort-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Dietary patterns affect different aspects of overall health, especially oral and dental status. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) index and nutritional status using the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010) among health care workers.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a population participating in the first phase of the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Employees’ Health Cohort Study (SUMS-EHCS) from August 2018 to the end of March 2019. Demographic data, occupational status, DMFT index, AHEI index using the semi-quantitative food frequencyquestionnaire (FFQ) were determined. The relationship between DMFT and AHEI-2010 was assessed too.Results: Totally, 1,116 SUMS-EHCS participants (mean age of 41.55±6.81 years, 52.9% female) were enrolled. The mean DMFT and AHEI-2010 were 10.46±5.45 and 65.23±13.05, respectively. A significant inverse linear relationship between DMFT and AHEI-2010 was observed (Spearman’s rho: -0.060; p=0.04). In addition, the multiple linear regression showed that DMFT index to be significantly decreased when AHEI-2010 increased [coefficient: -0.048 (95% confidence interval: -0.088, -0.008); p=0.01]. Moreover, according to multiple quantile regression, the significant inverse relationship between AHEI-2010 and DMFT could be generalized to the 50th quantile of DMFT, in which with every 10-unit increase in AHEI-2010 resulted in a decrease in DMFT by 0.41 teeth (p=0.006).Conclusion: Greater adherence to AHEI-2010 may improve oral health. Moreover, lower age and sufficient educational level was related to a higher DMFT score.