Prevalence and Oral Health Impact of Using Teeth as Bottle Cap Openers Among Adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria: A cross-sectional study

Background: Caffeinated beverage consumption has been documented among Nigerian adolescents (5). Recent evidence suggests that opening metal bottle caps with the teeth is becoming an increasingly common oral habit among adolescents. This practice can have significant consequences for dental health, as it may cause trauma to the teeth and surrounding oral tissues. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of opening bottle caps with the teeth and to assess its impact on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 697 randomly selected adolescents aged 12–19 years from 12 secondary schools in Ibadan participated in this study. Data were collected using structured, pretested questionnaires. Oral health-related quality of life was assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile-5 (OHIP-5). Data were analysed using SPSS, and the Mann–Whitney U test was used to determine the association between OHIP-5 scores and opening bottle caps with the teeth. Results: The mean age of the participants was 14.6 ± 1.3 years. Overall, 420 (60.3%, 95%CI = 56.6% - 63.8%) adolescents between those who engaged in the practice and those who did not (p > 0.05). The mean OHIP-5 score was 5.2 ± 5.2, and 563(80.8%, 95%CI = 77.9% - 83.7%) participants reported at least one impact on their OHRQoL. Adolescents who opened bottle caps with their teeth reported significantly greater impairment in taste and flavour of food than those who did not (mean ranks: 365 vs. 324; Mann–Whitney U = 51,232.0; p = 0.003). Conclusion: The prevalence of removing metal bottle caps with the teeth was high. Those who removed metal bottle caps with their teeth reported greater impairment in the taste and flavour of food.