Prevalence and risk factors of erosive tooth wear among young adults in the Singapore military

Objectives Erosive tooth wear (ETW) is defined as the irreversible chemo-mechanical loss of dental hard tissues without plaque or bacteria and has been a growing phenomenon in the general population worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ETW and the associated risk factors among young military personnel in Singapore. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study consisted of a questionnaire and clinical examination of military personnel between 18 and 25 years. The questionnaire collected information on demographics, medical and dental history, lifestyle and dietary habits. Tooth wear was clinically evaluated using the Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) index. The participants were profiled into four risk categories (none, low, moderate, severe) based on the sum score. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the risk factors associated with the presence of ETW. Results Out of 1296 participants evaluated, 21.8% of them had ETW. The anterior sextants were more affected by erosion than posterior sextants for both arches. The risk factors significantly associated with ETW were GERD (OR = 2.83, p = 0.041), presence of self-reported TMD symptoms (OR = 2.51, p < 0.001), acidic food (OR = 2.03, p < 0.001) and drinks (OR = 3.07, p < 0.001), high caries risk (OR = 4.59, p < 0.001) and toothbrush stiffness (OR = 4.67, p < 0.001). Conclusion ETW is prevalent among the young military population, with over half of the population at a risk of ETW. Gastric reflux disease, TMD, acidic diet, dental caries susceptibility and the use of stiff toothbrushes were identified as significant risk factors. Clinical relevance A large proportion of young military personnel exhibited mild to moderate risk of ETW. Dental professionals can identify risk-susceptible individuals at a young age and educated them with preventive measures and dietary interventions to prevent the progression of the condition.