Assessment of Oral Health and Nutritional Status of School Teachers in Dharamshala City, Himachal Pradesh.

Abstract

Background Nutrition is associated with oral health and any changes in dietary habits have impacted nutritional profiles which in turn influences oral health status. Objective To assess the oral health and nutritional status among school teachers in Dharamshala city, Himachal Pradesh. Method A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken with interviews and documented using a structured and adapted WHO proforma. The oral health was assessed by using WHO oral assessment form 2013 (by tooth surfaces) and the nutritional status by using five day dietary recall and scored according to dental health dietary score. The dental health dietary scores included food group scores (FGS), nutritional evaluation score (NES), decay promoting potential scores (DPPS) for all five days. Result Almost, two third of the school teachers in both types of schools had an excellent Food Group Score (FGS) on all five days of dietary recalls. The mean total Decay Promoting Potential Score (DPPS) was 23.33±3.20 (minute). Approximately onethird of the teachers in both types of schools had DPPS scores within the "watch out" zone of dietary recall, ranging 15 or more on each day. The mean DMFT was 3.79±2.52 with mean total decayed teeth as 1.35±2.03. Similarly, the mean DMFS was 9.68±7.95 with the mean total decayed surfaces as 1.81±2.94. Conclusion The frequency of essential food groups remained consistent throughout the fiveday dietary recall period. Carbohydrates formed the primary component whereas proteins were frequently missing from the diets. Frequent absence of protein intake in diet increased loss of attachment.