Association of short sleep duration and long media use with caries in school children

Abstract

Background Individual lifestyle factors are associated with dental caries in children. The aim of this study was to comprehensively investigate the associations between dental caries in elementary school children and the lifestyle factors in them and their parents. Methods From five elementary schools in Takaoka city, Toyama prefecture, Japan, 1,699 children (848 boys and 851 girls) aged 6‐12 years participated in the questionnaire survey conducted in March 2016. Questions on the socioeconomic status and the lifestyle factors in children and their parents were included. Children who received treatment for three or more dental caries were defined as having many caries. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate whether these factors were associated with many caries. Results The percentage of children with many caries was 38.4%. In univariate analysis, being 5‐6 graders, frequent snacking, short sleep durations, long hours of media use, paternal smoking, and parental skipping of breakfast were significantly associated with many caries. Lack of affluence was marginally significant. In multivariate analysis, the associations of short sleep hours and long hours of media use remained significant. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for media use of 1‐2 hours and more than 2 hours were 1.79 (95% CI, 1.30‐2.46) and 2.24 (95% CI, 1.61‐3.11), respectively. The adjusted OR for less than 8 hours of sleep was 1.49 (1.07‐2.06). Conclusions Long durations of media use and short durations of sleep were associated with dental caries. Establishing desirable lifestyle is necessary for preventing dental caries in children.