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Can Schoolchildren Substitute Mothers' Reports of Cariogenic Foods Consumption?

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To investigate the influence de two instruments for evaluation of cariogenic foods consumption by schoolchildren.

Material and Methods:

The convenience sample comprised of 30 active-caries children (7-10 years old) attended in a public dental clinic and their mothers, who have not received dietary orientation before study. A trained evaluator administered the Previous Day Food Questionnaire (PDFQ) to children and other examiner applied the 24-hour dietary recall with mothers. Internal consistency between PDFQ and 24-hour dietary recall regarding frequency of sugar intake was calculated using intraclass correlation coefficient. Bivariate analyses (Mann-Whitney test) were performed to investigate the factors associated with frequency of sugar intake when using both instruments (α=0.05).

Results:

A moderate correlation (ICC = 0.51; 95%CI: -0.04-0.77; p=0.03) was found between instruments. Mean frequency of sugar intake reported by mothers and children was 3.5 (± 1.8) and 3.7 (± 1.5) times a day, respectively. When using the PDFQ, the frequency of cariogenic foods consumption varied depending on frequency of toothbrushing, i.e., children that had higher frequency of sugar intake brushed their teeth at least two times a day (p=0.016).

Conclusion:

Previous Day Food Questionnaire applied with schoolchildren could substitute the mothers' reports of cariogenic foods consumption when dietary interventions for controlling dental caries are necessary. If doubts remain regarding the children's response, mothers should be consulted.

Keywords:
Child; Diet, Cariogenic; Dental Caries

Introduction

Dental caries is a biofilm-mediated, sugar-driven, multifactorial disease that results in the imbalance of demineralization and remineralization of dental hard tissues [1[1] Kidd E, Fejerskov O. Changing concepts in cariology: forty years on. Dent Update 2013; 40(4):277-86. https://doi.org/10.12968/denu.2013.40.4.277
https://doi.org/10.12968/denu.2013.40.4....
,2[2] Tinanoff N, Baez RJ, Diaz Guillory C, Donly KJ, Feldens CA, McGrath C, et al. Early childhood caries epidemiology, aetiology, risk assessment, societal burden, management, education, and policy: Global perspective. Int J Paediatr Dent 2019; 29(3):238-48. https://doi.org/10.1111/ipd.12484
https://doi.org/10.1111/ipd.12484...
]. Consumption of free sugars (i.e. sugars added to foods and drinks and sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices, and fruit juice concentrates) is of critical importance to the development of dental caries [3[3] Moynihan PJ, Kelly SAM. Effect on caries of restricting sugars intake. J Dent Res 2014; 93(1):8-18. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034513508954
https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034513508954...

[4] Sheiham A, James WPT. Diet and dental caries: the pivotal role of free sugars reemphasized. J Dent Res 2015; 94(10):1341-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034515590377
https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034515590377...

[5] Sheiham A, James WPT. A new understanding of the relationship between sugars, dental caries and fluoride use: implications for limits on sugars consumption. Public Health Nutr 2014; 17(10):2176-84. https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001400113X
https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001400113...
-6[6] Moynihan P, Petersen PE. Diet, nutrition and the prevention of dental diseases. Public Health Nutr 2004; 7(1A):201-26. https://doi.org/10.1079/phn2003589
https://doi.org/10.1079/phn2003589...
]. A high frequency of intake of sugars leads to prolonged acid production from tooth adherent bacteria and to a shift in the composition of the oral microbiota and biofilm pH. If sustained, tooth structures are demineralized [1[1] Kidd E, Fejerskov O. Changing concepts in cariology: forty years on. Dent Update 2013; 40(4):277-86. https://doi.org/10.12968/denu.2013.40.4.277
https://doi.org/10.12968/denu.2013.40.4....
].

Despite protective role of fluoride in the controlling of dental caries, restrict sugar consumption has a role to play in the prevention of the disease [5[5] Sheiham A, James WPT. A new understanding of the relationship between sugars, dental caries and fluoride use: implications for limits on sugars consumption. Public Health Nutr 2014; 17(10):2176-84. https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001400113X
https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001400113...
,7[7] Burt BA, Pai S. Sugar consumption and caries risk: a systematic review. J Dent Educ 2001; 65(10):1017-23.]. Moreover, dental caries shares common risk factors with other non-communicable diseases associated with excessive sugar consumption, such as obesity [8[8] Paes VM, Hesketh K, O'malley C, Moore H, Summerbel C, Griffin S, et al. Determinants of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in young children: A systematic review. Obes Rev 2015; 16(11)903-13. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12310
https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12310...
], and diabetes [9[9] Kosova EC, Auinger P, Bremer AA. The relationships between sugar-sweetened beverage intake and cardiometabolic markers in young children. J Acad Nutr Diet 2013; 113(2):219-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2012.10.020
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2012.10.0...
]. There is consistent evidence to support potentially modifiable correlates/determinants of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in young children acting at parental (modelling) [10[10] Buldur B. Pathways between parental and individual determinants of dental caries and dental visit behaviours among children: Validation of a new conceptual model. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2020; 48(4):280-7. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdoe.12530
https://doi.org/10.1111/cdoe.12530...
], child (TV viewing/screen time and snack consumption) and environmental (school policy) levels [8[8] Paes VM, Hesketh K, O'malley C, Moore H, Summerbel C, Griffin S, et al. Determinants of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in young children: A systematic review. Obes Rev 2015; 16(11)903-13. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12310
https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12310...
]. Thus, the evaluation of dietary habits is fundamental in the Pediatric Dentistry clinic.

The measurement of sugar intake is commonly based on food frequency questionnaire, diary or a 24-hour dietary recall [11[11] Morikava FS, Fraiz FC, Gil GS, de Abreu MHNG, Ferreira FM. Healthy and cariogenic foods consumption and dental caries: A preschool-based cross-sectional study. Oral Dis 2018; 24(7):1310-7. https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.12911
https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.12911...

[12] Rodrigues CS, Sheiham A. The relationships between dietary guidelines, sugar intake and caries in primary teeth in low income Brazilian 3-year-olds: a longitudinal study. Int J Paediatr Dent 2000; 10(1):47-55. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-263x.2000.00165.x
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-263x.2000...
-13[13] Ziegler P, Briefel R, Clusen N, Devaney B. Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS): Development of the FITS survey in comparison to other dietary survey methods. J Am Diet Assoc 2006; 106(1):12.e1-12.e50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2005.09.033
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2005.09.0...
]. Food diary is an inventory method in which the professional weighs all sugary foods and drinks consumed by children usually over the three-day period (including a weekend day). The major limitation is that the questionnaire is fill out by parents/guardians and they tends to inform only foods and drinks consumption during main meals, omitting those consumed between main meals [13[13] Ziegler P, Briefel R, Clusen N, Devaney B. Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS): Development of the FITS survey in comparison to other dietary survey methods. J Am Diet Assoc 2006; 106(1):12.e1-12.e50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2005.09.033
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2005.09.0...
].

The 24-hour dietary recall is performed with parents/guardians of the child by interview. The report begin with foods and drinks consumed on the previous day. The professional asks the questions, taking care not to induce answers, being possible to record items that the interviewee did not initially mention [11[11] Morikava FS, Fraiz FC, Gil GS, de Abreu MHNG, Ferreira FM. Healthy and cariogenic foods consumption and dental caries: A preschool-based cross-sectional study. Oral Dis 2018; 24(7):1310-7. https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.12911
https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.12911...
].

Parents/guardians, oftentimes, are not able to provide complete information on food and drink intake during school hours, and children are too young to self-report or to fill meal frequency questionnaires [14[14] Baranowski T, Domel SB. A cognitive model of children's reporting of food intake. Am J Clin Nutr 1994; 59(1):212S-217S. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/59.1.212S
https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/59.1.212S...
]. In this sense, a structured and illustrated tool called Previous Day Food Questionnaire (PDFQ) was developed to measure food intake in children between six and eleven years old [15[15] Assis MAA, Benedet J, Kerpel R, de Vasconcelos FAG, Di Pietro PF, Kupek E. Validation of the third version of the Previous Day Food Questionnaire (PDFQ-3) for 6-to-11-years-old schoolchildren. Cad Saúde Pública 2009; 25(8):1816-26. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x2009000800018
https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x200900...
]. The questionnaire provides information on items such as the choice of food groups consumed on a typical day, considering 6 daily eating occasions [15[15] Assis MAA, Benedet J, Kerpel R, de Vasconcelos FAG, Di Pietro PF, Kupek E. Validation of the third version of the Previous Day Food Questionnaire (PDFQ-3) for 6-to-11-years-old schoolchildren. Cad Saúde Pública 2009; 25(8):1816-26. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x2009000800018
https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x200900...
,16[16] Engel R, de Assis MAA, Lobo AS, Leal DB, Vieira FGK, Di Pietro PF. Validation of the online version of the previous day food questionnaire for schoolchildren. Rev Nutr 2017; 30(5):627-37. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-98652017000500008
https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-98652017000...
]. The questionnaire was previously validated with a sample of Brazilian children and can be used for assessing food and meal patterns [15[15] Assis MAA, Benedet J, Kerpel R, de Vasconcelos FAG, Di Pietro PF, Kupek E. Validation of the third version of the Previous Day Food Questionnaire (PDFQ-3) for 6-to-11-years-old schoolchildren. Cad Saúde Pública 2009; 25(8):1816-26. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x2009000800018
https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x200900...
]. However, to the best of the knowledge, no previous study used this tool to investigate cariogenic foods consumption.

Considering that dietary intake is difficult to measure, and any single method cannot assess dietary exposure perfectly [17[17] Shim J-S, Oh K, Kim HC. Dietary assessment methods in epidemiologic studies. Epidemiol Health 2014; 36:e2014009. https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2014009
https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2014009...
], this study aimed to investigate if there is correlation between schoolchildren and mothers' reports on sugar intake frequency in order to identify if the self-report by PDFQ can be used alone or associated with mothers' report. The secondary aim was to assess the factors associated with sugar intake frequency.

Material and Methods

Ethical Aspects

The local Research Ethics Committee approved the research protocol (CAAE No. 04269718.0.0000.5347). For the collection of data, the parents or guardians signed written informed consent. The personal information of the patients was kept confidential.

Sample Collection

This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Children and Youth Dental Clinic, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil. This public pediatric dental clinic treats children at a low charge, who are mainly from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

The convenience sample comprised of 30 active-caries children (7-10 years old), attended during 1-year period (2019), who have not received dietary orientation before study. Non-cooperative children or patients with compromised systemic health were excluded from the study. The participants were recruited by verbal invitation during routine dental appointments at the clinic.

Training of Evaluators

Two examiners (I.L.D. and R.H.) underwent a total of 8 h of specific training session involving theoretical explanations about instruments for dietary evaluation and their application to five children and respective parents/guardians not involved in the study. The responsible for training session was a benchmark examiner (T.L.L.) with experience in cariogenic diet evaluation.

Dietary Assessment

A trained evaluator (R.H.) administered the Previous Day Food Questionnaire (PDFQ) [15[15] Assis MAA, Benedet J, Kerpel R, de Vasconcelos FAG, Di Pietro PF, Kupek E. Validation of the third version of the Previous Day Food Questionnaire (PDFQ-3) for 6-to-11-years-old schoolchildren. Cad Saúde Pública 2009; 25(8):1816-26. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x2009000800018
https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x200900...
] to children and other examiner (I.L.D.) applied the 24-hour dietary recall with mothers. The evaluator systematically asked for each mother about all foods and drinks consumed by child on the previous day, taking care not to induce answers.

In the PDFQ [15[15] Assis MAA, Benedet J, Kerpel R, de Vasconcelos FAG, Di Pietro PF, Kupek E. Validation of the third version of the Previous Day Food Questionnaire (PDFQ-3) for 6-to-11-years-old schoolchildren. Cad Saúde Pública 2009; 25(8):1816-26. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x2009000800018
https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x200900...
], children were asked to detail their food consumption on the previous day at 6 daily eating occasions that were chronologically ordered (breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, and evening snack), based on 21 drawings of selected foods or food groups: bread and biscuits, chocolate milk, coffee with milk, milk, yogurt, cheese, rice, soft drinks, sweets, salty snacks, French fries, pizza and hamburger, fruits, beans, pasta, fish and seafood, beef and poultry, 100% fruit juices, leafy vegetables, cooked vegetables, and vegetable soup (Figure 1). The foods and food groups were chosen in order to take into account the food patterns of children in this age group, food presented in school menus and foods recommended in the guidelines for Brazilian population [18[18] Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Atenção à Saúde. Departamento de Atenção Básica. Guia alimentar para a população brasileira. 2. ed. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde, 2014. 156p. [In Portuguese].].

Figure 1
Previous day food questionnaire

Each child received a colored printed version of the questionnaire and a colored pencil. The examiner, using vocabulary and gestures appropriate for the age group, explained the purpose of each question and the procedure to be adopted for filling out the questionnaire. Furthermore, the children were asked whether they consumed other foods that were not included in the instrument and were instructed to write the name of the food on the part referring to the meal in question. The interviews were held independently with mothers and children, who had received no prior warning that they would be interviewed to avoid any changes in the dietary habits.

We classified the foods based on their densities of refined sugar or other simple carbohydrates and/or previously reported associations with caries in the literature [19[19] Chaffee BW, Feldens CA, Rodrigues PH, Vítolo MR. Feeding practices in infancy associated with caries incidence in early childhood. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2015; 43(4):338-48. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdoe.12158
https://doi.org/10.1111/cdoe.12158...
]. The items categorized as cariogenic were: added sugar, sweets, chips, chocolate milk, coffee (sugar added), soft drinks, and salty snacks.

Data Collection

Both evaluators collected from clinical records the following individual and clinical characteristics: gender (boys or girls), child's age, brushing frequency (once a day or at least twice a day); flossing use (yes or no), visible plaque index (less or more than 20%) [20[20] Casagrande L, Seminario AT, Correa MB, Werle SB, Maltz M, Demarco FF, et al. Longevity and associated risk factors in adhesive restorations of young permanent teeth after complete and selective caries removal: a retrospective study. Clin Oral Investig 2017; 21(3):847-55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-016-1832-1
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-016-1832-...
], gingival bleeding index (less or more than 20%) [20[20] Casagrande L, Seminario AT, Correa MB, Werle SB, Maltz M, Demarco FF, et al. Longevity and associated risk factors in adhesive restorations of young permanent teeth after complete and selective caries removal: a retrospective study. Clin Oral Investig 2017; 21(3):847-55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-016-1832-1
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-016-1832-...
], and caries experience (decayed, missing, and filled teeth - dmft).

Statistical Analysis

The descriptive analysis provides the distribution summary of the sample characteristics. Intraclass correlation coefficient and respective 95% confidence interval was calculated to evaluate the internal consistency of the PDFQ and 24-hour dietary recall considering the frequency of sugar intake. The strength of correlation can be interpreted as follows: < 0.20: Poor; 0.21-0.40: Fair; 0.41-0.60: Moderate; 0.61-0.80: Good; 0.81-1.00: Excellent [21[21] Foley JI. Dental students consistency in applying the ICDAS system within paediatric dentistry. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 2012; 13(6):319-22. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03320834
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03320834...
]. Bland-Altman plot was also used to determine the agreement between two instruments.

Bivariate analyses (Mann-Whitney Test) were performed to investigate the associated factors with frequency of sugar intake when using PDFQ and 24-hour dietary recall. A significance level of 5% was considered. Data analyses were performed with SPSS software, version 22 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Results

The sample was comprised of 30 children (15 boys and 15 girls) with average age of 8 years old (± 1.0 years), presenting a dmft index mean of 4.7 (± 3.4) and active carious lesions mean of 6.4 (± 3.4). All children used standard fluoride toothpaste (≥1.000 ppmF) and most them (90%) brushed their teeth at least two times a day. Clinical and demographic characteristics of children are summarized in Table 1. All mothers had more than 8 years of formal education with average age of 29.1 years old (± 2.5 years).

Table 1
Clinical and demographic characteristics.

Table 2 describes the feeding pattern of children reported by them and their mothers. Main sugar intake fonts reported by mothers and children were soft drinks and sweets. Fruit juices consumption was the most relevant divergence between children and mothers.

Table 2
Percentage distribution of food choices and meals patterns.

A moderate correlation (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient = 0.51; 95%CI: -0.04-0.77; p=0.03) regarding frequency of sugar intake was found between PDFQ and 24-hour dietary recall. Mean frequency of sugar intake reported by mothers and children was 3.5 (± 1.8) and 3.7 (± 1.5) times a day, respectively (Table 3).

Table 3
Frequency of sugar intake reported by children and mothers.

Bland-Altman plots (Figure 2) showed that the average of the differences between to instruments was -0.23 (not statistically significant different from 0), meaning that PDFQ and 24-hour dietary recall correlation were in agreement (p=0.51). Linear regression model showed that there was proportion bias between the frequency of sugar intake reported by both instruments (p=0.26), showing that there was homogeneous distribution.

Figure 2
Bland-Altman plot shows the mean difference between the two instruments

Bivariate analyses results are shown in Table 4. When using PDFQ, the frequency of cariogenic foods consumption varied depending on frequency of toothbrushing, i.e., children that had higher frequency of sugar intake brushed their teeth at least two times a day (p=0.016).

Table 4
Associated factors with frequency of sugar intake when using PDFQ and 24-hour dietary recall.

Discussion

This is the first study that used the PDFQ to analyze cariogenic foods consumption by schoolchildren. The internal consistency and agreement between mothers' report with 24-hour dietary recall and children' information using the PDFQ about sugar intake was investigated.

Both instruments consist of a single day recall about food consumption. They are based on the recent memory of individuals, minimizing memory bias. Despite these advantages, it is almost impossible to obtain the total food intake using both instruments. PDFQ was previously validated for evaluation of food consumption of schoolchildren using the 24-hour dietary recall as reference method [15[15] Assis MAA, Benedet J, Kerpel R, de Vasconcelos FAG, Di Pietro PF, Kupek E. Validation of the third version of the Previous Day Food Questionnaire (PDFQ-3) for 6-to-11-years-old schoolchildren. Cad Saúde Pública 2009; 25(8):1816-26. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x2009000800018
https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x200900...
].

The association between dental caries and a diet rich in sugary foods and drinks is well established in the scientific literature [3[3] Moynihan PJ, Kelly SAM. Effect on caries of restricting sugars intake. J Dent Res 2014; 93(1):8-18. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034513508954
https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034513508954...
,7[7] Burt BA, Pai S. Sugar consumption and caries risk: a systematic review. J Dent Educ 2001; 65(10):1017-23.,22[22] van Loveren C. Sugar restriction for caries prevention: amount and frequency. Which is more important? Caries Res 2019; 53(2):168-75. https://doi.org/10.1159/000489571
https://doi.org/10.1159/000489571...
]. The relative contribution of the frequency versus the amount of sugar intake is difficult to discriminate because of the high correlation between frequency and amount. However, reducing the amount without reducing the frequency does not seem to be an effective caries preventive approach in contrast to the reciprocity [22[22] van Loveren C. Sugar restriction for caries prevention: amount and frequency. Which is more important? Caries Res 2019; 53(2):168-75. https://doi.org/10.1159/000489571
https://doi.org/10.1159/000489571...
]. Goals set in terms of frequency may also be more tangible for patients to follow than goals set in amount [22[22] van Loveren C. Sugar restriction for caries prevention: amount and frequency. Which is more important? Caries Res 2019; 53(2):168-75. https://doi.org/10.1159/000489571
https://doi.org/10.1159/000489571...
].

In this study, a moderate correlation (0.51 95%CI -0.04-0.77; p=0.03) was found between instruments regarding frequency of sugar intake. Additionally, Bland-Altman plot showed that instruments are in agreement. It was speculated that a higher reliability would be observed if the sample was higher. Mean frequency of sugar intake reported by mothers and schoolchildren was 3.5 (± 1.8) and 3.7 (± 1.5) times a day, respectively. PDFQ limits the evaluation of frequency of sugar intake up to six times a day (breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, and evening snack). Nonetheless, it is important to note that a higher proportion of children rather than mothers reported cariogenic foods and drinks consumption 6 times a day.

Main sugar intake fonts reported by mothers and children were soft drinks and sweets, in line with previous reports [23[23] Mariri BP, Levy SM, Warren JJ, Bergus GR, Marshall TA, Broffitt B. Medically administered antibiotics, dietary habits, fluoride intake and dental caries experience in the primary dentition. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2003; 31(1):40-51. https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0528.2003.00019.x
https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0528.2003...

[24] Levy SM, Warren JJ, Broffitt B, Hillis SL, Kanellis MJ. Fluoride, beverages and dental caries in the primary dentition. Caries Res 2003; 37(3):157-65. https://doi.org/10.1159/000070438
https://doi.org/10.1159/000070438...
-25[25] Mattila ML, Rautava P, Paunio P, Ojanlatva A, Hyssälä L, Helenius H, et al. Caries experience and caries increments at 10 years of age. Caries Res 2001; 35(6):435-41. https://doi.org/10.1159/000047487
https://doi.org/10.1159/000047487...
]. On the other hand, consumption of bread and biscuits was more frequent by report of children than mothers. Children spend a large portion of the day in the school and mothers tend to inform only the foods and drinks consumption at home. Thus, the frequency of sugar intake may be underestimate by mothers' report. Moreover, foods pattern away from home is associated with a higher consumption of soft drinks, and lower consumption of fruits, vegetables and milk [26[26] Taveras EM, Berkey CS, Rifas-Shiman SL, Ludwig DS, Rockett HRH, Field AE, et al. Association of consumption of fried food away from home with body mass index and diet quality in older children and adolescents. Pediatrics 2005; 116(4):e518-e524. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2004-2732
https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2004-2732...
]. Fruit juices consumption was the higher divergence between children and mothers. While 66.7% children reported to drink 100% fruit juices, only 3.3% mothers informed its consumption by children. This result is in line with the difference in the frequency of soft drinks consumption reported by children (53.3%) and mothers (76.7%). It may be explained because many children do not know to differentiate natural fruit juices and fruit drinks.

Prospective cohort studies in children and adolescents found no association or inverse association between 100% fruit juice intake and dental caries [27[27] Liska D, Kelley M, Mah E. 100% Fruit juice and dental health: a systematic review of the literature. Front Public Health 2019; 7:190. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00190
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00190...
]. The consumption of milk and yogurt reported by both children and mothers was low. A recent systematic review found that probiotic-containing dairy products such as milk and yogurt are beneficial for oral health, reducing Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus spp. levels and increasing salivary pH [28[28] Nadelman P, Magno MB, Masterson D, da Cruz AG, Maia LC. Are dairy products containing probiotics beneficial for oral health? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Oral Investig 2018; 22(8):2763-85. https://doi.org/10.1007/ s00784-018-2682-9
https://doi.org/10.1007/ s00784-018-2682...
].

It has been shown that children who consume foods and drinks with added sugar more frequently (≥4) are more likely to develop dental caries than children who have a sugar-free diet [29[29] Hong J, Whelton H, Douglas G, Kang J. Consumption frequency of added sugars and UK children's dental caries. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2018; 46(5):457-64. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdoe.12413
https://doi.org/10.1111/cdoe.12413...
]. Drinking fluoridated water frequently helped ameliorate the deleterious effect of sugar consumption on children's dental caries experience [29[29] Hong J, Whelton H, Douglas G, Kang J. Consumption frequency of added sugars and UK children's dental caries. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2018; 46(5):457-64. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdoe.12413
https://doi.org/10.1111/cdoe.12413...
]. In the present study, there was no statistically significant association between frequency of sugar intake and caries experience (dmft). Dental caries has a long course of progression due to its accumulative nature. On the other hand, PDFQ and 24-hour dietary recall provide information about recent eating habits, which represents only the most recent history of the condition while caries experience involves also past history of the disease.

Children that had higher frequency of sugar intake, measured by PDFQ, brushed their teeth at least two times a day (p=0.016). An increase in the toothbrushing frequency may be a measure adopted by parents to compensate the higher frequency of cariogenic foods consumption. It is important to highlight that all children were caries-active and the majority of them brushed their teeth at least two times a day. It has been shown that the use of fluoride by appropriate toothbrushing twice a day significantly reduces the association between caries and sugar intake [7[7] Burt BA, Pai S. Sugar consumption and caries risk: a systematic review. J Dent Educ 2001; 65(10):1017-23.,22[22] van Loveren C. Sugar restriction for caries prevention: amount and frequency. Which is more important? Caries Res 2019; 53(2):168-75. https://doi.org/10.1159/000489571
https://doi.org/10.1159/000489571...
]. Conversely, a previous study [11[11] Morikava FS, Fraiz FC, Gil GS, de Abreu MHNG, Ferreira FM. Healthy and cariogenic foods consumption and dental caries: A preschool-based cross-sectional study. Oral Dis 2018; 24(7):1310-7. https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.12911
https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.12911...
] demonstrated an increase in the prevalence rate of untreated dental caries in preschool children for each additional daily contact with cariogenic foods, independent of the brushing frequency (up to once day or more than once day).

Therefore, within the limitations of the study, PDFQ applied with schoolchildren could substitute the mothers' reports of cariogenic foods consumption when dietary interventions for controlling dental caries are necessary. If doubts remain regarding the children's response, mothers should be consulted.

Conclusion

The correlation between reports of schoolchildren and mothers regarding the frequency of cariogenic foods and drinks consumption was moderate. Children that had higher frequency of sugar intake based on their reports also presented a higher toothbrushing frequency.

  • Data Availability
    The data used to support the findings of this study can be made available upon request to the corresponding author.
  • Financial Support
    None.

References

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Edited by

Academic Editor: Burak Buldur

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    30 June 2021
  • Date of issue
    2021

History

  • Received
    01 Dec 2020
  • Reviewed
    04 Feb 2021
  • Accepted
    07 Feb 2021
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