Associação entre cárie dentária, dieta e cuidados em saúde bucal de pré-escolares do município de Patos/PB.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the association between caries experience, dietary habits and oral health care for preschoolers. The analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with 216 children of both sexes in public and private kindergartens in Patos/ PB. To collect the data the DMFT was used and there were applied questionnaires to parents about dietary habits and oral health care. For the evaluation of the frequency of sugar consumption, there were used an institutionalized food diary supplemented with a three-day individual food diary. Statistical analysis involved descriptive procedures, univariate analysis (Gross RP) and Poisson regression like multivariate . The prevalence of caries in the sample was 67.6% and the average DMFT index was 3.74. There was a significant association between caries and breastfeeding (p = 0.001), children's diets sugar addition (p <0.001) and total daily frequency of sugar intake (p <0.001). After inclusion in the multivariate model, the prevalence of caries was higher in children who attend public day care (p = 0.01), which showed consumption of sugar higher than three times a day (p = 0.045) and high daily intake of sugar in diet (p <0.001). The impact of the diet on the oral health status of children of preschool age can guide new practices oforal health.