Overweight children are not more likely to have caries, but behaviors can increase their risk of dental problems, according to a new study in Caries Research (December 5, 2012, Vol. 47:2, pp. 171-176).
Chinese researchers studied 280 local children, ages 7 to 12. Some 38% were overweight, including 32% of the girls and 42% of the boys.
About 84% of the children had caries, and the average number of decayed, missing, or filled teeth was about three per child.
Children who ate yogurt or chewed gum were less likely to have caries, the researchers found. However, children who often breathed through their mouths and those whose parents had a significant amount of caries were more likely to have caries.
Also, overweight children did not have more missing, decayed, or restored teeth, the researchers concluded.
