CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Dental status and skeletal metabolism are affected by nutritional status of calcium(Ca) and vitamin D, along with other related habits. Objective: Present study will show effect of deficient Ca and vitamin D status, associated dietary habits and lifestyle on dental status, in a group of 101 young students (first year of nutrition degree), aged from 20 to 35 years old. Method: Daily food consumption was determined by a food-frequency questionnaire. Dietary habits, exercise and lifestyle (tobacco, alcohol, soft drinks, etc.) were recorded. Dental status was evaluated making a full odontogram. Times of sugar(TS), DMFT, DMFS, Plaque, Gingival and Occlusal Indexes were recorded. Oral hygiene and fluoride exposure was considered. Blood samples were obtained in a fasting state. Biochemical determinations of bone metabolism were made. Result: Dairy products consumption was quite low, 10% of women and 16% of men covered the recommended Ca intake, 50% and 36%, respectively had a Ca intake 4. 29% and 45% of them, respectively, showed at least one tooth loss. In this case, 80% presented TS> 4; 90% consumed soft-drinks daily, that related with high cariogenic risk that shows component (D) of DMFT (5,92±2,68) and 100% of them had Ca intake lower than the recommendations. 39% of women and 14% of men were smokers. Conclusion: There is a high Ca, fruit and vegetables deficiency in the studied group with dietary and lifestyle habits that would affect dental status and, in the future, skeleton status. Oral health affects nutritional status, proper nutrition contribute to optimal oral health. The change in any of these components would have a great impact on health and consequently on the quality of life. This abstract is based on research that was funded entirely or partially by an outside source: Buenos Aires University