The occurrences of dental erosion among tuberculous patients by age were studied. The results are as follows:
Male: 49.8% in the average; 4 out of 25 (16%) in the 16 to 20 age group, 42 out of 114 (36.8%) in the 26 to 30 age group.
Female: 55.8% in the average; 18 out of 45 (40.0%) in the 21 to 25 age group, 43 out of 77 (55.8%) in the 26 to 30 age group.
This indicated that more than one-half of tuberculous patients, regardless of sex, were sufferring from erosion of teeth.
Factors of age and length of the illness to the erosion of teeth: Male: 13 out of 19 (68.4%) in the 36 to 40 age group, that had been ill for one to five yeas, 17 out of 22 (77.3%) in the 41 to 45 age group, that had been ill for 6 to 10 years, 17 out of 24 (70.8%) in the 36 to 40 age group, that had been ill for more than 11 years.
Female: 5 out of 6 (83.8%) in the 41 to 45 age group, that had been ill for one to 5 years, 5 out of 10 (50.0%) in the 36 to 40 age group, that had been ill for 6 to 10 years, 7 out of 10 (70.0%) in the 26 to 30 age group, that had been ill for more than 11 years.
Data drawn from the classification by length of illness: Male: 4 out of 7 (57.6%), that had been ill less than one year, 116 out of 264 (57.1%), that had been ill for one to 5 years, 105 out of 165 (63.6%), that had been ill for 6 to 10 years, 78 out of 119 (65.5%), that had been ill for more than 10 years.
Female: 0 out of 3 (0%), that had been ill less than one year, 51 out of 120(42.5%), that had been ill for one to 5 years, 35 out of 78 (44.9%), that had been ill for 6 to 10 years, 22 out of 31 (71.0%) that had been ill for more than 11 years.
This indicated that the occurrence of erosion of teeth was in proportion to length of illness.
The relation between erosion of teeth and dentifrices and tooth brushes: 104 out of 202 (51.5%), that were using nylon brushes and 46 out of 98 (46.9%) that were using bristle brushes.
In nylon brush group: 50 out of 102 (49.0%) used paste, 38 out of 74 (51.3%) used pastepowder, 16 out of 26 (61.5%) used powder.
In bristle brush group: 16 out of 42 (38.1%) used paste, 19 out of 36 (52.8%) used pastepowder, 11 out of 20 (55.5%) used powder.
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