Abstract
The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of dietary patterns on the occurrence of dental caries. Using a population-based, cross-sectional study design, we assessed a sample of 1.439 children aged 6-13 years who were enrolled in public schools in the municipality of São Francisco do Conde, Bahia state, Brazil. Oral examinations for dental caries were performed by two dental surgeons (Kappa = 0.72) in the school environment under natural light with the aid of a wooden spatula and gauze. Dietary intake was assessed using the qualitative-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. A questionnaire on the demographic and socioeconomic conditions was applied to the families. The Poisson multivariate analysis was performed for statistical purposes. Considering both dentitions, the prevalence of caries was 82.14% and 37.3% in the permanent and deciduous dentitions, respectively. The identified dietary patterns were classified into “standard obesogenic" and "prudent." The results showed statistically significant association between the obesogenic dietary pattern and dental caries; the proportion of students with dental caries was 1.4 times higher among those who most frequently consumed foods that constitute a standard obesogenic diet (PR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.04-1.96) compared to those who less frequently consumed these types of foods. A positive association between the obesogenic dietary pattern and dental caries was found in the students investigated. Therefore, the promotion of healthy eating habits and nutritional habits should be encouraged to prevent dental caries in children and adolescents.
Keywords:
dental caries; food consumption patterns; children; adolescents