The effects of mineral content in drinking water on dental caries in children
- VernacularTitle:Хүүхдийн шүд цоорох өвчинд ундны усны эрдсийн агууламжийн үзүүлэх нөлөөг судалсан дүн
- Author:
Batbold G
1
;
2
;
Enkh-Orchlon
1
;
Khongorzul Ts
3
;
Batzorig B
4
;
Oyunsuren E
5
;
Delgertsetseg J
2
Author Information
1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, MNUMS
2. Department of Dental Hygiene, School of Dentistry, MNUMS
3. Department of Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, MNUMS
4. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, MNUMS
5. Ministry of Health, Mongolia
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Fluoride;
Magnesium;
Chloride;
Calcium;
Dental Caries
- From:
Mongolian Journal of Health Sciences
2026;93(3):124-131
- CountryMongolia
- Language:Mongolian
-
Abstract:
Background:Dental caries remains a major public health concern among children and adolescents in Mongolia. The mineral composition of drinking water-particularly fluoride and other essential minerals plays a crucial role in enamel mineralization and caries prevention. Fluoride directly influences the demineralization–remineralization balance of dental enamel and forms a temporary layer of fluid fluorapatite on the enamel surface when exposed to acids, thereby reducing the critical pH for dissolution and increasing acid resistance. In addition, fluoride inhibits the acid-producing metabolism of bacteria such as s.mutans within the biofilm and lowers biofilm acidity, thus slowing the rate of demineralization. Therefore, determining the relationship between population groups and water mineralization is essential for developing effective preventive strategies.
Aim:To determine the severity and prevalence of dental caries among 5-, 12-, and 15-year-old children living in the 21 provinces of Mongolia and to evaluate the effects of selected minerals in drinking water (Ca, Mg, Cl, F) on dental caries.
Materials and Methods:The study utilized oral examination data from a total of 421,970 children aged 0-17 years across 21 provinces and 321 soums in Mongolia. Sampling was conducted in Ulaanbaatar city (48.1%) and in all 21 rural provinces. Dental caries was assessed according to WHO criteria, and the effects of minerals in drinking water were analyzed using linear regression.
Result:The average caries severity of primary teeth in 5-year-old children was 3.0-3.1 dft, which was higher than the caries severity of permanent teeth in 12- and 15-year-olds (1.54DMFdft–1.93 DMFT). Among 5-year-olds, boys had a slightly higher caries severity (3.17±3.52) compared to girls (2.92±3.40), while in the 12- and 15-yearold groups, girls showed higher caries severity than boys. Overall, 5566% of children had at least one carious tooth, and the prevalence among 5-year-olds was 63.5-66.2%. Linear regression analysis showed that fluoride (beta=–0.449, p<0.001) and magnesium (beta=–0.031, p<0.001) in drinking water had a statistically significant protective effect in reducing dental caries in both primary and permanent teeth.
Conclusion:The findings indicate that fluoride (F) and magnesium (Mg) in drinking water are important protective elements against dental caries, whereas calcium (Ca) and chloride (Cl) show no consistent association with caries experience.
- Full text:202609270141212516416_124-131_Хүүхдийн шүд цоорох өвчинд ундны усны эрдсийн агууламжийн үзүүлэх нөлөөг судалсан дүн.pdf
