Dietary Patterns and Oral Health Behaviours Associated with Caries Development from 4 to 7 Years of Age.

ABSTRACT

The association between modifiable risk factors and caries in children has been documented; however, most studies have been cross-sectional and have not considered the complexity of dietary factors and oral health habits. This study aimed to investigate the prospective association between dietary patterns and oral health behaviours at 4 years of age and the development of new decayed, missing, and filled teeth (d3-6mft/D3-6MFT) over a period of three years. Participants were children from the Generation XXI population-based birth cohort. At 4 years of age, diet patterns were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, with three dietary patterns being identified. For the purpose of capturing the new development of caries between 4 and 7 years of age, two dental outcomes were defined in the mixed dentition "dental caries development" and "severe dental caries development" in the mixed dentition. Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used. From 4 to 7 years of age, 51.2% of the children had at least one new d3-6mft/D3-6MFT and 27.4% had more than two new d3-6mft/D3-6MFT. Children belonging to the "energy-dense foods" (OR = 2.19; 95% CI 1.20-4.00) and "snacking" (OR = 2.19; 95% CI 1.41-3.41) dietary patterns at 4 years old were associated with severe dental caries development three years later. Preventive strategies should be implemented in an attempt to reduce snacking and the consumption of energy-dense, micronutrient-poor foods to promote children's oral health.