Association of Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, Dental Caries, and Erosive Tooth Wear in Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966.

INTRODUCTION

Research on the impact of physical activity (PA) and physical fitness on oral health has been limited in scope. The aim of this report was to assess the impact of PA and physical fitness as modifiable factors in dental caries and erosive tooth wear (ETW) among middle-aged individuals in Finland.

METHODS

Data were 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 PA, and measurements of height and weight administered between 2012 and 2014. PA was measured over a 2-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 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 ETW (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 (ORs), 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), 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 PA and good physical fitness are associated with a lower prevalence of dentine caries. No association between PA or physical fitness and ETW was found. Further research is needed to explore the potential oral health benefits of PA and physical fitness as modifiable factors.