Researchers found that more than a quarter of high school students in their study sample suffered from Internet addiction and that this condition was an obstacle to maintaining good oral care.
A study found that those Japanese high school students who suffer from internet addiction are more likely to develop cavities or be at risk of losing their teeth. The aim of the study was to fill a gap in the availability of information regarding the relationship between Internet use and oral health in adolescents, and it showed that unhealthy lifestyles associated with Internet addiction have a direct impact on the incidence of caries.
Out of 1,526 high school students who took part in the cross-sectional study, more than a quarter (26%) were classified as suffering from Internet addiction according to the results of tests for Internet addiction. The researchers found that internet addicts had more decayed or missing teeth and more permanent teeth with restorations.
Internet addiction in the control group is associated with unhealthy lifestyle factors such as short sleep, late evening snacking, irregular meal times, and frequent consumption of sugary drinks and sugary foods. In addition, teens with internet addiction have been found to brush their teeth less frequently and skip evening brushing.
Believing that Internet addicted teens save time on oral care in order to make the most of that time using the Internet, the researchers said: “The results of our study show that Internet addiction is a barrier to maintaining good oral hygiene.
The researchers explained: “Poor oral hygiene accelerates the accumulation of plaque and bacterial activity in it, which leads to the development and progression of caries. In general, one of the potential reasons for the higher prevalence of caries among study participants suffering from Internet addiction, loss of control over plaque, which, of course, is associated with an unhealthy lifestyle.”
To assess the impact of Internet addiction on caries, longitudinal studies are also needed to determine the dynamics of age-related, temporal changes and changes associated with trends in technical progress.