Method: A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted. Using a three-stage sampling method, 1374 3-5-year-old children were randomly selected to participate from kindergartens in Beijing. Dental caries was diagnosed at the tooth level following WHO 1997 criteria. A structured questionnaire was completed by children’s main caregiver to collect information on children’s demographics, feeding practices, dietary habits, oral hygiene behaviors, dental visit history, as well as caregivers’ educational level, knowledge and attitudes towards oral health care.
Result: Caries prevalence among 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children and overall were 50.6%, 62.6%, 73.3% and 59.4% with the mean dmft values 2.16, 3.19, 4.30 and 2.96, respectively. Decayed teeth (64.5%) were the main component of the dmft score. Multivariate analysis (negative binomial regression model) showed that caries severity was greater among older children and children who experienced more than 6 months breastfeeding, who often consumed sweet food or drinks before sleep at night, who had more teeth with gingival bleeding, whose main caregivers disagreed “Poor oral hygiene is one of causes of tooth decay”, who had ever seen a dentist, and who brushed their teeth with help of caregivers.
Conclusion: The results obtained show a high level of caries experience among Beijing 3-5-year-old children, and most decayed teeth remained untreated. Every effort should be made to promote the establishment of good feeding, diet and oral hygiene habits in children’s early years of life.