A new study has revealed that internet addiction has an indirect link to dental caries in students.
Internet addiction indirectly affects dental caries and poor oral health, a study has shown.
The research was carried out on students at a high school in south west Japan.
In the study of 1562 students, 406 of them were recognised as having an internet addiction. In addition, the students with an internet addiction had poorer oral health compared to those without.
Their oral health was measured by the number of decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth.
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The study
Past research has shown that internet addiction causes poor lifestyle behaviours. Poor lifestyle behaviours can also have negative impacts on oral health.
As such, the study aimed to assess if there was an indirect relation between internet addictions and dental caries through unhealthy lifestyle behaviours among students.
The study consisted of a medical and dental health check up at the school. This is a routine procedure in Japan, as students regularly have health check ups.
Following the check up, the participants were given a questionnaire regarding internet use and health behaviour.
Their findings indicate that internet addiction is a barrier to maintaining good oral hygiene, the researchers concluded.
Overall, this study of high school students in southwest Japan highlights that dental caries and poor oral health was common in students with an internet addiction. In addition, this is largely because these students had unhealthy lifestyle behaviours.
Other findings
The study also highlighted that internet addiction was associated with short sleep duration, frequent consumption of soft drinks and sweet snacks, irregular mealtimes, and late-evening snacking.
In addition, students with an internet addiction were more likely to:
- Have unhealthy lifestyle behaviours
- Be female
- Be 16-17 years old
- Not use a fluoride toothpaste
- Have poorer oral health habits.
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