Dental caries could be a risk factor for metabolic syndrome (MetS); however, there is limited evidence of such a relationship in the literature. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationships among dental caries experience, dietary habits, and MetS in Japanese adults. A total of 937 participants aged 40-74 years underwent a health check, including dental examination. Decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) were used as an index of caries experience. The mean DMFT score was 14, and 12% of the participants had MetS in this study. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the prevalence of MetS was significantly related to DMFT (first vs. fourth quartile, odds ratio [OR] = 1.80; P < 0.05). In addition, the OR of DMFT for MetS was found to be greater in each successively higher DMFT quartile. The prevalence of MetS was significantly related to daily coffee consumption (OR = 0.51, P < 0.01), and the relationship between DMFT and MetS was noted after adjusting for daily coffee consumption. There appears to be a positive association between caries experience and MetS in Japanese adults. This relationship increased with the increase in DMFT regardless of dietary habits.
Keywords: cross-sectional study; dental caries; dietary habits; metabolic syndrome.