Frequent Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption, Dental Caries, and the Federal Poverty Level in Children 1–18 Years, NHANES 2015–2020

Objective

The objective of this research was to determine if the ratio of family income to poverty index is a modifier in the relationship of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and dental caries in U.S. children.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design of NHANES 2015–2020 for ages 1 to < 18 years (n = 6212) was conducted. The What We Eat in America interview was used for classification and categorization (0, 1, and ≥ 2) of SSB in the NHANES daily dietary file. Untreated dental caries were determined by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dental examiners and categorised as yes (untreated) or no. The poverty index was categorised as < 200% of the poverty line (low income, < 2), ≥ 200% to less than 400% (moderate ≥ 2 to < 4), and ≥ 400% (high ≥ 4). Chi Square and Logistic regression analyses were conducted.

Results

There were 11.6% of children with dental caries; 46.7% with a low income; and 43.0% who consumed no SSB. In subgroup analysis by income, among the children whose family had a moderate income (n = 1541), the unadjusted odds ratio for ≥ 2 SSB on dental caries was 2.70 (95% CI: 1.57, 4.67) and the adjusted odds ratio was 2.61 (95% CI: 1.48, 4.60) as compared with no SSB consumption. The relationship failed to reach significance among children whose family had a low or high income.

Conclusion

Family income was a modifier in this research comparing SSB consumption and dental caries. This study highlights the complicated relationship of SSB consumption and family income on dental caries among children in the U.S.