Unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary behavior drive untreated dental caries among adolescents: A population-based study.

ABSTRACT: Untreated dental caries remains a significant public health challenge, particularly among adolescents, where it can compromise well-being and quality of life. This population-based study investigates the factors associated with untreated dental caries in 12-year-olds across the five most populous cities (each with > 80,000 inhabitants) in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Using WHO criteria, clinical oral examinations and self-reported behavioral data were collected. Guided by a social determinants of health framework, we conducted univariable and multilevel logistic regression analyses to explore associations between untreated dental caries and individual, behavioral, and contextual factors. The prevalence of untreated dental caries was 25.3% (95% CI: 18.8-33.1). Protective factors

SUBMITTER: de Barros LP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12488936 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature