The effect of intelligence quotient and nutritional status on oral health condition among 6 years old school children in Baghdad Iraq

Abstract EN

Ackground : The intelligence and nutritional status have an effect on the health of oral cavity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the oral cleanliness and gingival health condition (in primary teeth) among 6 years old children of the three intelligence scales in relation to gender and the influence of nutritional status on these variables.

Materials and Methods : The total sample composed of 660 children aged 6 years old, 220 children in each intelligence scale.

The measurement of intelligence was done using Raven's test for non-verbal intelligence.

The assessment of nutritional status was performed using Body Mass Index specific for age and gender.

Plaque index of Silness and Loe (1964) was used for plaque assessment, gingival index of Loe and Silness (1963) was used for gingival health condition.

Results : The results of this study showed that the plaque and gingival indices among children with high intelligence scale was reported to be highly significant lower than those with moderate and low intelligence scales, as well as among well nourished children than that among malnourished children but the highly significant was found only in gingival index.

Conclusion : The intelligence status and nutritional status affect oral health condition as gingival index were found to be lower among the children with high intelligence scale, this may explained the role of intelligence levels and nutritional status in protection of oral tissue from dental and periodontal disease.