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The environmental impact of community caries prevention - part 2: toothbrushing programmes.

ABSTRACT: Introduction Community-level caries prevention programmes includes supervised toothbrushing in schools and the provision of toothbrushes and toothpaste. The environmental impact of these interventions is an important factor to consider when commissioning these services.Materials and methods A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to quantify the environmental impact of a five-year-old child receiving one of two toothbrushing programmes over a one-year period; supervised toothbrushing in school, or the provision of toothbrushes and toothpaste.Results Supervised toothbrushing had a lower environmental impact than provision of toothbrushes and toothpaste in all 16 impact categories measured. The water use needed for children to brush their teeth was the greatest contributing factor to the provision of toothbrushes and toothpaste, accounting for an average of 48.65% of the impact results.Discussion All community-level caries prevention programmes have an associated environmental cost. LCA is one way to quantify the environmental impact of healthcare services and can be used along with cost and clinical effectives data to inform public healthcare policy. Organisations responsible for these programmes could use the results of this study to consider ways to reduce the environmental impact of their services.

SUBMITTER: Ashley P

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9412791 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The environmental impact of community caries prevention - part 2: toothbrushing programmes.

Ashley Paul P Duane Brett B Johnstone Mark M Lyne Alexandra A

British dental journal 20220826 4

Introduction Community-level caries prevention programmes includes supervised toothbrushing in schools and the provision of toothbrushes and toothpaste. The environmental impact of these interventions is an important factor to consider when commissioning these services.Materials and methods A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to quantify the environmental impact of a five-year-old child receiving one of two toothbrushing programmes over a one-year period; supervised toothbrus ...[more]

PMID: 36028694

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Project description:BackgroundSugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) have been associated with childhood caries; however, associations among lifelong beverage intakes and adolescent caries have received less attention.ObjectiveTo investigate associations between beverage intakes during childhood and adolescence and caries experience at 17 years of age, while adjusting for fluoride intakes and toothbrushing.DesignDescriptive model analyses were conducted on data collected from a longitudinal birth cohort study.Participants/settingParticipants included Iowa Fluoride Study members (n = 318) recruited at birth between 1992 and 1995 with at least 6 beverage questionnaires completed from ages 1 to 17 years and a caries examination at age 17.ExposurePredictors included mean daily milk, juice (100% juice and juice drinks before age 9), SSB (including juice drinks after age 9), and water/sugar-free beverage (SFB) intakes; daily fluoride intakes; and daily toothbrushing frequencies for ages 1 to 17.Main outcome measuresThe outcome was dental caries count at age 17, adjusted for the number of scored tooth surfaces (decayed and filled surfaces attack rate [DFSAR]).Statistical analyses performedUnivariable generalized linear models were fit for each predictor and the outcome DFSAR. Multivariable models assessed combined effects of beverage types, fluoride variables, toothbrushing, sex, and baseline socioeconomic status.ResultsBased on multivariable models, each 8 oz of additional daily juice and water/SFB decreased expected DFSAR by 53% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 17%-73%) and 29% (95% CI: 7%-46%), respectively, and 8 additional oz SSBs increased expected DFSAR by 42% (95% CI: 5%-92%), after adjustment for other beverage intakes, toothbrushing, total fluoride intake excluding SSB fluoride (non-SSB total fluoride), sex, and baseline socioeconomic status. Each additional daily toothbrushing event decreased expected DFSAR by 43% (95% CI: 14%-62%) after adjustment for beverage intakes, non-SSB total fluoride intake, sex, and baseline SES.ConclusionsHigher juice and water/SFB intakes and more toothbrushing were associated with lower caries at age 17, while higher SSB intakes were associated with higher caries.

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The environmental impact of community caries prevention - part 2: toothbrushing programmes.

Publications

The environmental impact of community caries prevention - part 2: toothbrushing programmes.

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