Erosive tooth wear among children in the United States: relationship to race/ethnicity and obesity

Objective.  The study aims were to estimate the prevalence of erosive tooth wear (ETW) in children and to specifically examine its association with race/ethnicity and obesity in the United States. Design.  We analysed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2003–2004. ETW was measured using the modified Smith and Knight Tooth Wear Index derived from the 1998 United Kingdom Adult Health Survey. Results.  This study shows that 45.9% of children aged 13–19 years had evidence of ETW in at least one tooth. The prevalence of ETW was bilaterally symmetrical in all teeth examined and was most prevalent in maxillary teeth. Females had significantly lower rates of ETW of any tooth compared to males. African Americans had significantly lower rates of ETW (except in the canines), and Hispanics had similar rates compared to whites. Compared to ‘healthy weight’ children, those ‘at risk for overweight’ had lower rates of ETW and the ‘overweight’ groups had higher rates, but results were not significant. Conclusions.  Substantial proportions of children in the US are affected by ETW. Compared to whites, African American children had significantly lower rates of ETW. Although not significant, ‘overweight’ (obese) children had increased odds of having ETW and those at ‘risk for overweight’ had lower odds compared to ‘healthy weight’ children.