Objectives: Dietary habits have significant implications for oral health, with the consumption of sugar-rich foods being strongly associated with caries. However, additional factors must be considered to fully establish their harmful effects. These relationships are examined in three age groups of the 6th German Oral Health Study (DMS • 6).
Method and materials: Dietary habits were assessed using the short form of the Marburg Sugar Index (MSI-S), which comprises six questions regarding food consumption frequencies in various contexts. Responses provide insight into the degree of cariogenic eating behavior. In addition to demographic factors (gender, education status, migration history), clinical variables such as caries experience (decayed, missing, filled teeth [DMFT] index), plaque accumulation (modified Marginal Plaque Index [mMPI]), and the number of remaining teeth were included.
Results: No direct relationship between the extent of cariogenic dietary habits (MSI-S total score) and clinical variables was observed in any of the examined age groups (n = 870 younger adolescents [12-year-olds], n = 853 younger adults [35- to 44-year-olds], and n = 730 younger seniors [65- to 74-year-olds]). Gender and education status also showed no significant differences. However, 12-year-olds with a migration history exhibited higher MSI-S scores compared to those without. Analyzing extreme groups (the top and bottom 10% of MSI-S scores), systematic differences in caries experience were observed among 12-year-olds and younger seniors, and in plaque levels among younger seniors. Younger adults showed no significant differences in clinical variables, even within extreme groups.
Conclusion: The MSI-S scores demonstrated that particularly cariogenic dietary habits, as opposed to more favorable ones (extreme groups), are associated with increased caries experience. This was especially evident among 12-year-olds but also observed in younger seniors. The lack of differences among adults as well as the absence of significant associations between dietary habits and clinical variables in the overall groups suggest that the impact of cariogenic diets on oral health is moderated by additional variables, such as oral hygiene practices and dental service utilization. Migration history was identified as a relevant factor among 12-year-olds. The detrimental effects of cariogenic dietary habits on oral health are most evident when analyzed in the context of additional influencing factors and stratified by target groups. Promoting oral health awareness regarding nutrition is particularly important for adolescents and seniors.