Associations Between Diverse Beverage Consumption Patterns and Oral Health: Evidence from a National Survey in Hungary

TL;DR

This study finds that beverage choices like dairy and juice are linked to better oral health in Hungarian adults, while soda, alcohol, and smoking worsen oral health outcomes.

Contribution

The study is the first to examine beverage consumption patterns and oral health in a nationally representative Hungarian population.

Findings

Higher dairy intake was associated with reduced gum bleeding and fewer missing teeth.

Daily soda consumption increased odds of gum bleeding, caries, and poor oral health.

Smoking and alcohol use were linked to higher risks of caries, missing teeth, and tooth mobility.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Oral diseases are highly prevalent in Hungary and driven in part by unhealthy beverage consumption, smoking, and other behaviors. No prior study has examined the impact of beverage consumption patterns on oral health in a representative Hungarian population. This study investigated the association between beverage intake, lifestyle factors, and oral health outcomes among Hungarian adults. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2019 Hungarian European Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative cross-sectional study. Oral health outcomes and key exposures, including beverage consumption, smoking, alcohol use, and sociodemographic variables, were self-reported. Associations were assessed using multiple logistic regression models. Results: Among 5425 adults, higher dairy intake was linked to less gum bleeding (odds ratio = 0.76; 95% confidence intervals [0.59–0.96]) and lower odds of teeth missing (0.63 [0.47–0.86]). Weekly juice intake reduced gum bleeding (0.62 [0.51–0.76]) and missing teeth (0.83 [0.71–0.96]). Daily soda was associated with more gum bleeding (1.94 [1.53–2.47]), caries (1.57 [1.27–1.94]), and poor self-perceived oral health (1.32 [1.10–1.59]). Alcohol (1–4 times/week) increased gum bleeding (1.38 [1.07–1.77]) and tooth mobility (1.47 [1.02–2.11]). Smoking raised odds for caries (1.42 [1.21–1.66]) and missing teeth (1.81 [1.55–2.10]). Conclusions: Increasing dairy and fresh juice intake while reducing sugar-sweetened and acidic beverages, alongside tobacco and alcohol control and routine oral health screening, are effective strategies for improving population oral health across all sociodemographic groups.