Association of Healthy Eating, Juice Consumption, and Bacterial Counts with Early Childhood Caries

作者：AbdelAziz Wafaa E; Dowidar Karin M L; El Tantawi Maha M A^*

来源：Pediatric Dentistry, 2015, 37(5): 462-467.

• DIET
• DENTAL CARIES
• PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

Purpose: To investigate the association of healthy diet, snacking, and bacterial count with early childhood caries in a group of preschool children in Alexandria, Egypt Methods: Sixty preschoolers were divided into three groups: (1) caries-free children; (2) children with early childhood caries (ECC); and (3) children with severe early childhood caries (S-FCC). Saliva was cultured to determine bacterial counts. A questionnaire collected information about background, oral health practices, and snacking habits. A 24-hour food recall form assessed dietary intake and was analyzed using the Health Eating Index 2005. Results: Compared to caries-free children, children with FCC and S-FCC had significantly lower odds of drinking juices (odds ratio equals 0.10 and 0.02). Caries-free children had significantly higher Healthy Eating Index values than children with ECC and S-FCC (P=0.003 and P<0.0007). Total streptococci and Streptococcus mutans counts were significantly higher in children with FCC and S-FCC (P<0.0007 for all), whereas Streptococcus sanguis counts were lower (P=0.04 and P=0.07). Conclusions: Drinking juices was associated with less early childhood caries and severe early childhood caries among preschoolers. Snacking on sweets was associated with more S-FCC. Healthy eating, brushing, and bacterial counts were not significantly associated with FCC or S-FCC in multivariate regression.

• 出版日期2015-10