Risk factors for dental erosion in adolescents

Relevance . Various factors contribute to the development of dental erosion. Understanding these factors can inform preventive strategies. Objective . To assess the prevalence of risk factors for erosion of permanent teeth in adolescents to guide the development of targeted preventive measures. Materials and methods . A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 114 adolescents aged 14–17 years. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. A 45-item questionnaire developed by the authors was used to identify potential risk factors for dental erosion. Results . Adolescents reported irregular meal patterns and frequent consumption of acidic foods and drinks. Daily or frequent consumption of pickled or fermented vegetables was reported by 31.5% of respondents (95% confidence interval [CI]: 23.0–40.1%), while 44.7% (95% CI: 35.6–53.9%) reported daily or frequent consumption of acidic fruit drinks or juices. Most respondents brushed their teeth once or twice a day; 8.8% (95% CI: 3.6–14.0%) reported brushing less than daily or not at all. Some respondents reported gastrointestinal symptoms: a sour taste in the mouth (often: 4.4%, 95% CI: 0.6–8.1%; rarely: 16.7%, 95% CI: 9.8–23.5%), abdominal bloating (often: 4.4%, 95% CI: 0.6–8.1%; rarely: 31.6%, 95% CI: 23.0–40.1%), and nausea or vomiting (often: 4.4%, 95% CI: 0.6–8.1%; rarely: 42.1%, 95% CI: 33.0–51.2%). The findings indicated a substantial need to improve fluoride-based prevention. Only 7.9% (95% CI: 2.9–12.8%) reported having received fluoride varnish applications during dental visits. The remaining respondents either reported no such treatment (51.7%, 95% CI: 42.6–60.9%) or were unsure (40.3%, 95% CI: 31.3–49.4%). Conclusion. The questionnaire survey identified a high prevalence of self-reported risk factors for dental erosion among adolescents aged 14–17 years. These findings support the need for screening, monitoring and prevention of dental erosion in this population.