Dietary Patterns, Plaque Acidogenicity and Early Childhood Caries in Japanese

Objectives: The frequent consumption of cariogenic foods has an important role in development of dental caries. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of dietary patterns with plaque acidogenicity and early childhood caries (ECC) in a group pf preschool-aged children in Japan.
Methods: Dental records, Cariostat scores, and diet records of 34 children with ECC and 89 caries-free children, who presented for the first dental visit at a pediatric dental clinic in Okayama, were assessed retrospectively. Cariostat scores show plaque acidogenicity as one of caries risk indicators. Children’s dietary data was obtained from 3-day diet records which their mothers had completed. Dietary cariogenicity score was calculated from the 3-day diet records.
Results: Significant correlations were found among frequency of between-meal sugar consumption, dmft, Cariostat and dietary cariogenicity scores. Children who consumed between-meal sugar frequently (p=0.021), who had breast/bottle-feeding frequently (p=0.008), and who were older (p<0.001) were significantly more likely to have ECC. There were no significant differences in mean dietary cariogenicity scores between ECC and caries-free groups. ECC children consumed liquids (beverages) significantly more frequently (p=0.005). Those with ECC, and those with high plaque acidogenicity consumed between-meal juice significantly more frequently than those without (both p<0.05), while no significant differences were found in frequency of meal juice, meal milk, between-meal milk, meal water, between-meal water, meal tea, and between-meal tea.
Conclusions: These results suggest that frequency of between-meal sugar, especially between-meal juice consumption contributed to plaque acidogenicity and ECC occurrence in this population. Combination of liquids cariogenicity and dietary pattern (meals, between-meals) has potential to provide quick identification of caries risk levels in clinical setting.