Dietary Habits and Oral Health of Children in Milwaukee

Objectives: A direct correlation has been found between the incidence of caries within the oral cavity and high sugar diets. The objective of this study was to determine the dietary habits in relation to dental health of children in Milwaukee.

Methods: One hundred children, 3-13 years old were recruited from the pediatric clinic of Marquette University, School of Dentistry. Data was collected via questionnaires and clinical examination. Questionnaires referred to children’s diet knowledge, behavior and attitude. Children were clinically examined by a calibrated pediatric dentist using a WHO probe to assess dental plaque (Greene &Vermillion index-DI-s) and dental caries (DMFT- ICDAS criteria).

Results: Results from clinical examination reported dmft 2.43±2.97, DMFT 0.22±0.79 and DI-s 32.5%±19.97. Regarding diet knowledge, the children were informed of the appropriate meal frequency (75.8%), the cause of caries (64.6%), and the foods that are cariogenic (64.6%) and these results were correlated with father’s educational level (p<0.05). Also, 35.7% of children believed that it is better to eat sweetened foods in small portions during the day and 46.4% actually eat sweets this way. Most children eat 1 to 3 times a day (61.6%) which was correlated with dmft index (χ²=61.43, p=0.00). Also, 27.3% eat fruits and 51% drink water between meals and these results were correlated with DMFT index (p<0.05). Soda drinking between meals was correlated with race (χ²=16.56, p=0.05). Diet behaviour was correlated with father’s educational level and age (p<0.05). Regarding diet attitude, 61.9% reported that they feel content with their weight and this result was correlated with race (χ²=18.01, p=0.04).

Conclusions: Results of the present study suggest that overall, children know about general healthy dietary habits and have healthy dietary behaviour and attitude. However, they do not correlate frequent snacking with higher caries incidence. Dietary habits were correlated with clinical presentation of caries, age and father’s educational level.