As bizarre as it sounds, a recent study has suggested a positive relationship between internet addiction and cavities. While the Internet is an essential communication tool problematic Internet use has led to various psychosocial problems that can indirectly lead to oral diseases due to neglect of healthy behaviours. Internet addiction can result in physical inactivity, short sleep duration, and inappropriate dietary habits, such as irregular mealtimes and frequent consumption of soft drinks and snacks.
Internet Addiction - The Main Cause Of Poor Habits
Evidence suggests that Internet Addiction negatively affects lifestyle behaviours. These altered and inappropriate lifestyle behaviours can have an adverse effect on dental caries. While the concept seems unlikely internet addictions are thought to be indirectly associated with dental caries through unhealthy lifestyle behaviours.
The Study
A study was conducted among high school students in southwest Japan. The cross-sectional study was done to examine the interrelationships among Internet addiction, lifestyle behaviours, and dental caries in high school students.
The hypothesis concluded that social media addiction does not have an indirect association with dental caries via unhealthy lifestyle behaviours among the population. Among 1562 students, 406 of them were recognised as having an internet addiction.
Study Observations
While previous research has shown the negative impact of poor lifestyle and dietary habits on oral health. Similar results were concluded for the study as well. The study consisted of students who went through medical and dental health checkups at the school as part of the routine procedure in Japanese schools.
Following the check-up, the participants were given a questionnaire regarding internet use and health behaviour.
Study Results
406 (26.0%) out of the 1562 study participants were classified as suffering from internet addiction. The participants with internet addiction had a larger number of decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth as well as a larger unhealthy lifestyle behaviour index.
Internet addiction is associated with short sleep duration, frequent consumption of soft drinks and sweet snacks, irregular mealtimes, and late-evening snacks. These findings are in agreement with those from previous studies investigating internet addiction and lifestyle behaviours.
