RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIETARY HABITS AND DENTAL CARIES EXPERIENCE IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

Kim, Jae-Gon; Cheon, Cheol-Wan; Lee, Doo-Cheol; Baik, Byeong-Ju

Journal of the Korean Academy of Pediatric Dentistry 2001;28(2):271-280.
Published online May 31, 2001.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIETARY HABITS AND DENTAL CARIES EXPERIENCE IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

Jae-Gon Kim, Cheol-Wan Cheon, Doo-Cheol Lee, Byeong-Ju Baik

Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Institute of Oral Bioscience, College of Dentistry, Chonbuk National University

어린이의 식이습관과 치아우식발생과의 상관관계에 관한 연구

김재곤, 전철완, 이두철, 백병주

전북대학교 치과대학 소아치과학교실 및 구강생체과학연구소

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyze relationship between dietary habits and dental caries experience in preschool children. All 143 boys and 124 girls living in a chonju city were investigated dmf index by dentists through oral examination and dietary habit by children's mothers through questionaires such as infant diets and food preferences. The statistical analysis were performed to evaluate whether variations in dietary habits are related to dental caries experience. The obtained results were as follows; 1. The average dmf index scores of all children were examined 2.92±1.05. The girls had higher than the boys, but no significant differences between the genders were seen the dmf index(P>0.05). 2. The higher were their age of children, the higher dmf index was investigated. The dmf index of 5 and 6-yr old childrens was higher than that in 3 and 4-yr old children(P<0.05). 3. No significant difference was found between the present of mother's occupation (P>0.05) and type of infant dietary habits(P>0.05). 4. The fruits and sea weeds were showed high degree of preference and fats and vegetables were showed low degree generally. Among 13 food groups, there was no significant difference between boys and girls except for sea weeds(P>0.05). 5. Among 13 food groups, the dmf index was positively associated with sugars(r=0.3854, P<0.05), dairy products(r=0.4328, P<0.05) and soft drinks(r=0.2586, P<0.05), and negatively associated with other food groups.

Key Words: Dental caries experience, Dietary habits, Dmf index, Preschool children