Dental status and its relationship to diet and nutritional status have been little explored. In this study of a representative sample of the US civilian, non-institutionalized population (NHANES III), we predicted that the intake of nutritious foods, dietary fiber, and levels of biochemical analytes would be lower, even after adjusting for potential social and behavioral factors, among those who were edentulous and wore complete dentures than for those who had all their natural teeth. Multivariate analyses indicated that intake of carrots and tossed salads among denture-wearers was, respectively, 2.1 and 1.5 times less than for the fully dentate (p < 0.0001), and dietary fiber intake was 1.2 times less (p < 0.05). Serum levels of beta carotene (9.8 microg/dL), folate (4.7 ng/dL), and vitamin C (0.87 mg/dL) were also lower among denture-wearers (p < 0.05). Intakes of some nutrient-rich foods and beta carotene, folate, and vitamin C serum levels were significantly lower in denture-wearers.

Evidence that dental status affects diet is equivocal. The hypothesis of this study was that diet was affected by dental status. The objective was to assess the relationship between numbers of teeth and diet and nutritional status in US adult civilians without prostheses. We examined 6985 NHANES (1988-1994) participants. Data included socio-economics, demographics, dental status, and diet and nutritional status. Dietary data were obtained from food frequency questionnaires and 24-hour dietary recall. Serum levels of beta carotene, folate, and vitamin C were measured with isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography. The population was classified by numbers of teeth. Covariance and Satterthwaite F-adjusted statistical comparisons were made between tooth groupings and the fully dentate population. Multilinear regression models adjusted for covariates. People with fewer than 28 teeth had significantly lower intakes of carrots, tossed salads, and dietary fiber than did fully dentate people, and lower serum levels for beta carotene, folate, and vitamin C. Dental status significantly affects diet and nutrition.

Objectives-We sought to better understand the determinants of oral health disparities by examining individual-level psychosocial stressors and resources and self-rated oral health in nationally representative samples of Black American, Caribbean Black, and non-Hispanic White adults.Methods-We conducted logistic regression analyses on fair or poor versus better oral health using data from the National Survey of American Life (n=6082).Results-There were no significant racial differences. Overall, 28% of adults reported having fair or poor oral health. Adults with lower income and less than a high school education were each about 1.5 times as likely as other adults to report fair or poor oral health. Higher levels of chronic stress, depressive symptoms, and material hardship were associated with fair or poor oral health. Adults living near more neighborhood resources were less likely to report fair or poor oral health. Higher levels of self-esteem and mastery were protective, and more-religious adults were also less likely to report fair or poor oral health.Conclusions-Social gradients in self-rated oral health were found, and they have implications for developing interventions to address oral health disparities.Oral health disparities are most pronounced among socioeconomically disadvantaged and racial-minority groups in the United States. 1 A social gradient in adult self-reported oral health has been documented in this country and others, 2,3 illustrating that poor oral health is attenuated NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript by higher levels of income and education. Similar social gradient patterns have been found using more-objective indicators of oral health as well, including periodontal disease, gingival bleeding, and loss of attachment of tissue supporting teeth, after sociodemographics were controlled. 2, 4 -6 Studies have also shown that Black adults have worse oral health when compared with Whites across several dimensions of oral health.6 -12 Although research supports that lower socioeconomic status (SES) adults disproportionately bear the burden of oral disease, 13 it is unclear how social stratification contributes to poor oral health, especially among racial minorities. Income and education do not fully explain racial disparities in oral health, and research on disparities in general health suggests that there are additional likely causes.6Most prior oral health research has focused primarily on biological and behavioral health risk factors. Recently, researchers have been exploring the psychosocial determinants of oral health in an effort to better understand and address the processes underlying documented inequities. 14-16 A small but growing body of research has explored the associations between oral health and select psychosocial factors that may influence biological processes and health behavior, such as depressive symptoms, 17-20 different types of stress, 21,22 and various neighborhood characteristics.12 , 23 , 24 Few studies have explored any p...