Community‐based sugar‐sweetened beverage intervention associated with short‐term improvements in self‐rated oral health. Issue 4 (3rd January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Monica L.; Minyé, Helena M.; Egan, Kelsey A.; Heaton, Brenda
• Is Part Of: Community dentistry and oral epidemiology. Volume 49:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 362
• Page End: 368
• Publication Date: 2021-01-03
• Subjects: childhood obesity intervention -- oral health -- sugar‐sweetened beverage consumption; Dental public health -- Periodicals; 617.6
• DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12610
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-5661

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To assess the efficacy of a community‐based childhood obesity prevention intervention targeting Sugar‐sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption on self‐rated oral health among children and their parents/caregivers. Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of data from a pilot site‐randomized intervention (H2 GO!) targeting SSB consumption and obesity risk among children. The 6‐week SSB behavioural intervention was implemented in two Massachusetts Boys and Girls Club sites that were matched for size and racial/ethnic composition. Children ages 9‐12 years and their parents/caregivers were eligible to participate. Data on self‐rated oral health and sociodemographics were obtained via self‐report surveys at baseline, 2 and 6 months. Generalized linear mixed regression models were used to estimate 2‐ and 6‐month change in oral health associated with the intervention. Results: Data are from 100 child participants (46% female; 38% Black, 20% Hispanic, 13% White, 12% Multiracial, 11% Asian) and 87 parent participants (78.2% female; 37.9% Hispanic, 29.9% Black, 14.9% Asian, 10.3% White). At baseline, 47% of child participants rated their oral health as good, followed by very good (32%), fair (11%) and excellent (10%). Among parents, 46.3% rated their oral health as good, followed by very good (29.3%), excellent (9.8%), fair (9.7%) and poor (4.9%). The intervention was associated with 2‐ and 6‐month improvements in child participants' mean self‐rated oral health scores (β = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.48, 1.087; P < .001; β = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.61, 1.34; P < .001, respectively) and with 2‐month improvements in parent participants' mean self‐rated oral health (β = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.016, 0.82; P = .042). Conclusion: Short‐term improvements in oral health among children and their parents/caregivers were observed among those participating in a SSB behavioural intervention. Community‐based behavioural programmes targeting SSB consumption may be a promising approach to promote oral health as well as prevent childhood obesity.