Objectives: Objectives: This study examined the relationship between dietary habits, body mass index (BMI), and oral disease symptoms among Korean adolescents using data from the 17th (2021) Youth Health Behavior Survey, aiming to provide foundational evidence for preventing and managing oral diseases in this population. Methods: Using the 2021 Youth Health Behavior Survey data, we assessed adolescents’ consumption frequencies of carbonated drinks, sweetened beverages, and fast foods, as well as tooth brushing frequency and BMI categories. Statistical analyses evaluated associations among dietary habits, BMI, and oral disease symptoms, while considering demographic and socioeconomic factors impacting BMI. Results: Tooth sensitivity was the most common symptom (30.6%), followed by toothache (21.2%), gingival bleeding/swelling (19.1%), and tooth fracture (8.7%).
Increased consumption of carbonated drinks, sweetened beverages, and fast foods correlated significantly with higher rates of all oral disease symptoms. Lower tooth brushing frequency also associated with greater symptom prevalence. BMI was significantly influenced by gender, academic achievement, and economic status. Dietary habits varied across BMI groups, and toothache occurred 1.09 times more frequently in obese adolescents; gingival bleeding/swelling were 1.07 and 1.08 times more common among overweight and obese groups, respectively, compared to normal-weight peers. Conclusions: Effective adolescent oral health promotion should include weight management programs tailored to dietary and brushing behaviors rather than relying on general stereotypes, thereby better addressing both BMI control and oral disease prevention.
