The association of physical activity, physical fitness, dental caries, and erosive tooth wear in Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966.

Abstract

Introduction Research on the impact of physical activity and physical fitness on oral health has been limited in scope. The aim of this report is to assess the impact of physical activity and physical fitness as modifiable factors in dental caries and erosive tooth wear among middle-aged individuals in Finland. Methods Data was gathered from the North Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966) 46-year follow-up, which included dental clinical examinations conducted by seven calibrated dentists, physical fitness tests, measurements of physical activity (PA), and measurements of height and weight administered between 2012 and 2014. PA was measured over a two-week period with a wrist-worn accelerometer and reported as average daily duration of PA (min/day). Physical fitness was assessed by measuring cardiorespiratory fitness via heart rate recovery (HRR) in a step test using a heart rate monitor and chest belt, and by evaluating back strength with the Biering-Sorensen test. Of the whole cohort, 1,964 cohort members participated in the oral clinical examination, and the regression models were conducted with 1,590 participants. The prevalence of dental caries (ICDAS), DMFT score, and erosive tooth wear (BEWE), and the results of the PA test and physical fitness tests, were categorized and analyzed using cross-tabulations and multivariable logistic regression models. SPSS version 29.0.0.0 was used to calculate 95% confidence intervals [CI], Odds Ratios [OR], 𝜒2, and p-values. Results Poor (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.15 - 2.23) and moderate (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.14 - 1.93) cardiorespiratory fitness and low PA (OR 1.48 95% CI 1.07 - 2.05) were associated with dentine caries in the regression model. The same model indicated that tooth brushing frequency (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.21 - 3.20), erosive tooth wear (ETW) (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.12 - 1.49), and male gender (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.05 - 1.43) were associated with increased dentine caries. No statistically significant association was found between PA or physical fitness and ETW. Conclusion In the middle-aged Finnish population, high physical activity and good physical fitness are associated with a lower prevalence of dentine caries. No association between physical activity or physical fitness and ETW were found. Further research is needed to explore the potential oral health benefits of physical activity and physical fitness as modifiable factors.