Association Between Body Mass Index and Caries Activity Using ORA Test among Children Aged 12–15 Years Visiting a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mangalore City: A Cross-sectional Study

A BSTRACT Background and Objectives: The association between body mass index (BMI) and dental caries has been widely studied, but its relationship with caries activity remains unclear. With changing lifestyles, rising obesity, and dietary shifts, both high BMI and dental caries are increasing concerns in children. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the association between BMI, oral health status, and caries activity among 12–15-year-old children visiting a tertiary care hospital in Mangalore, Karnataka. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted from September 2019 to July 2021, included 164 children, categorized as underweight, normal, or overweight/obese using the Indian Academy of Pediatrics growth charts. Caries activity was assessed using the ORA test, which detects microbial oxygen consumption in expectorated milk samples. Statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., USA), and Pearson’s correlation was used to examine associations between BMI, decayed, missed, and filled teeth (DMFT) scores, and ORA test results. Results: A significant negative correlation was found between BMI and ORA test color change time ( r = −0.367, P < 0.01), DMFT and color change time ( r = −0.846, P < 0.01), and periodontal status and color change time ( r = −0.384, P < 0.01). Conclusion: A significant association was observed between BMI and caries activity, emphasizing the need for early identification of high-risk individuals. The ORA test serves as a useful, cost-effective tool for screening oral microbial load in school and community settings.