Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and caries experience: An examination of children and adults in the United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014

Background: The authors' aim was to examine the association between sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and the prevalence and severity of the caries experience in children and adults in the United States.

Methods: The authors analyzed data obtained from 14,192 people aged 2 through 74 years, who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2011 through 2014. Using descriptive analyses, the authors assessed the distributions of sociodemographic characteristics overall and via SSB intake. The authors used multivariable logistic regression to estimate the association of untreated and severe untreated caries with SSB consumption in all age groups.

Results: Across all ages, male participants were more likely than female participants to consume SSBs, and consumption was higher in non-Hispanic black and Hispanic populations. Relative to those who did not consume SSBs, people aged 20 through 44 years who consumed SSBs had significantly higher odds of having untreated caries (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 1.55) and severe untreated caries (AOR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.60). Adolescents aged 9 through 19 years had significantly higher odds of having untreated caries (AOR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.80), and middle-aged adults (45-64 years) had significantly higher odds of severe untreated caries (AOR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.92) relative to those who did not consume SSBs.

Conclusions: Consumption of SSBs was associated with increased caries experience among young children and increased risk of developing untreated caries in all age groups of children and adults. Continued efforts by policy makers, public health leaders, and clinicians to reduce consumption of SSBs across the life span are paramount.