A study of the relationship between schoolchildren's life habits and oral conditions in Taiwan

Objectives: The dental caries rate of 5-year-old children in Taiwan was 79.3% (in 2011) which was higher than the goal value (under 50%) of WHO in 2000. The reason of this state may be the lack of caries prevention knowledge and oral health habits of children and their parents. It is known that children's caries is associated with their eating and drinking habits with sugar and numbers of caries bacteria (mainly streptococci mutans) in their mouth. There's few children's research about the relationship between life habits and oral conditions in Taiwan. Then we carried out this study to investigate the factors of children's caries and might have a strategy for the prevention in Taiwan.
Methods: 125 first grade children (6-7 years, 66 boys and 59 girls) and their parents in Taipei TIANMU elementary school were selected to be the targets of this research. We carried out questionnaire survey for their parents to obtain information about the children's life habits and their oral health care knowledge and Dentocult® SM (Oral Care Co.) to examine the level (categories from number) of streptococci mutans in children's saliva. We had their oral condition data from school's health examination.
Results: There is a significant correlation between having deciduous decayed teeth and SM level. Also less times of tooth brushing in a day and children who has had unbalanced diet are associated with having decayed teeth significantly.
Conclusions: This study suggests that SM level, less times of tooth brushing and unbalanced diet might be risk factors for having decayed teeth.