Oral Health Related to Nutrition and Education Levels in a Suburban Community in La Paz

Oral care in children is related in many ways to the education level of the parents, besides, nutrition may influence the conditions of a good oral health. Objective: The aim of this study is to verify how nutrition and education levels are related to oral health in a suburban community in La Paz. Methods: For this study 140 children, with an age range of 5 to 12 years old of the schools from Villa Apaña, located 14 km. south of La Paz, were examined. Their parents were interviewed and asked about their educational background and the nutritional conditions of their children. Results: A total of 3117 teeth were observed from which 42 % were healthy, 37 % had caries 19% were present root debris and only 2% had fillings. From these children 47 % receive only one meal daily, 17 % receive 2 meals, 7% receive 3 meals, 7% receive 4 meals, 5% receive 5 meals and 17 % receive more than 5 meals a day. The nutrition levels of these children were, 39% superior, 27 % normal, 1% light malnutrition, 5% showed moderate malnutrition and 28% showed severe malnutrition. Parents reach an educational background as shown; 62 % finished elementary school, 13 % finished senior high school and 25% had no formal education at all. Conclusions: Our results showed that the lack of education of the parents along with extreme poverty result in a severe decrease of oral health.