Caries experience and sweet intakes of preschoolers in rural Vietnam

This study was conducted in association with a humanitarian aid project (Rotary Australia Vietnam Dental Health), which aims at improving oral health of children in rural Vietnam. We have shown previously very high caries experience and high intakes of sweet drinks and sweet foods in these villages. Objective: To investigate the oral health of preschool children in two villages with reference to sweet intakes. Methods: Parents/teachers of 198, 3-5 year-olds attending kindergartens in two villages (Tan Hiep, Phu Giao) completed questionnaires on their oral hygiene and sweet intakes (drinks, milk, foods). Children were examined (mirror, probe) under field conditions. Results: Caries experience was high (mean dmft: 9.8 ± 5.3), affecting 94% of children; 81% had caries on both anterior and posterior teeth (mean dmft: 11.6 ± 4.1); 29 had odontogenic infections, 32 had missing teeth (m = 68), 6 had fillings (f =7). Mean dmft was unrelated to toothbrushing frequency: 1/day: 10.8 ± 4.6; 2/day: 9.7±5.7; 3/day: 9.7±5.1. Plaque was present on gingival one-third or gingival + middle-thirds of maxillary central incisors for 85% of children; median plaque scores were similar for those examined in mornings (after home oral hygiene) or afternoons (after school-based oral hygiene). Sweet milk intake was very common (98%), consumed by 85% of children ≥2/day; between meals by 83%, and before bed by 81%. Mean dmft increased with milk intake frequency: 1/day: 8.8 ± 6.2; 2/day: 9.8 ±5.2; 3/day: 10.7 ± 5.3, and total sweet intakes (drinks, milk, foods): none: 7.0±7.1; 1-2/day: 7.6 ± 4.7; 3-4/day: 9.4 ± 5.3; 5-6/day: 10.0 ± 5.4; ≥7/day: 10.8 ± 5.3. Conclusion: Preschoolers in these rural Vietnam villages have very high caries experience including cases of odontogenic infections. The need for dental services is urgent in addition to oral health promotion and dietary modification, which should address sweetened milk consumption.