Author Name/s: Yihua Yue, Kathleen M. Hovey, Jean Wactawski-Wende, Michael J. LaMonte, Chris A. Andrews, Patricia I. Diaz and Amy E. Millen
Journal Reference: Yue, Y., Hovey, K.M., Wactawski-Wende, J. et al. Association between dietary patterns and the dental caries experience among postmenopausal women. Br Dent J (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-026-0002-3
Background:
a significant number of adults aged and over 65 have dental caries. Menopausal women have an increased risk of dental caries due to hormonal changes. There have been few studies examining the link between diet and caries in older adults and post-menopausal women.
Aims:
This study examines the link between 4 diets and the rate of caries in post-menopausal women, adhering to these diets. The diets are HEI-2020, Mediterranean diet, DASH and AHEI-2010.
Methodology:
Postmenopausal women recruited from Osteoperio. Patients provided data on their diet and dentition and caloric intake. The caloric intake over the last three months was assessed by a type of food frequency questionnaire containing 126 questions. This was a self-reported questionnaire. The dentition of the participant was assessed. The reason for which any permanent teeth that were exfoliated was queried and DMFT scores were calculated. Cross sectional analysis was preformed to examine the association between the diets and DMFT scores
Results:
HEI-2020 & AHEI 2010 inversely associated with decay, all diets were inversely associated with missing teeth and missing teeth due to caries. There were no association for decayed teeth.
Discussion:
No dietary pattern was associated with an increase of missing teeth or DMFT over the course of the study. There is a possibility that the status of the participants dentition affected their food selection and vice versa, as that is the limitation with cross-sectional studies.
Conclusion:
Adherence to HEI, Mediterranean diet and AHEA was associated with fewer missing teeth and a lower DMFT. No association was seen over 5 years. A cross sectional study may not be the best study design for this question due to the influence of dentition of diet. Further studies with a more diverse diet or socioeconomic characteristics may be indicated.
Research summary written by: Omobolaji Adenuga
University of Manchester, BDS5