A link has been found between country of origin and oral health

Rates of tooth decay and periodontal disease can be linked to ethnicity and country of origin even among immigrants who have lived for many years in the United States, according to a New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry research team. The team found that immigrants' ethnicity and country of origin predispose them to caries and periodontal disease.

The team leader, Dr Gustavo D Cruz, an Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Health Promotion and Director of Global Oral Public Health at NYU, undertook the study on the oral health of immigrants to the United States, analysing caries and periodontal disease rates in over 1,500 Chinese, Haitian, Indian, West Indian, Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Central and South American immigrants of Hispanic origin living in New York City.

Dr Cruz said the study revealed significant differences among the ethnic groups. Puerto Ricans, Haitians and Indians for example, were more likely to suffer from periodontal disease while Hispanics were more likely to have dental caries. He commented, 'These differences are deeply rooted in an immigrant's country of origin, where early cultural influences can set the stage for oral health problems later in life. For example, some ethnic groups may be more prone to tooth decay partly because their traditional foods are high in refined carbohydrates, while other groups may be less susceptible to decay because refined carbohydrates are almost absent from their diet.'

Dr Cruz found that rates of tooth decay and periodontal disease can be linked to ethnicity and country of origin even among immigrants who have lived for many years in the United States and have increased income and education levels. He added that his future research would aim to identify which specific factors were behind individual ethnic differences so that preventive measures could be developed, such as diagnostic tests that pinpoint the presence of harmful oral bacteria that may be more common in certain ethnic groups.

The findings were presented at the scientific meeting of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) in New Orleans recently.