Factors associated with dental caries among selected urban school children in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Author:
Satvinder Kaur
;
Dhivyalosini Maykanathan
;
Ng Kai Lyn
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
body weight;
children;
dental caries;
dietary sugar;
oral health
- MeSH:
Dental Caries
- From:Archives of Orofacial Sciences
2015;10(1):24-33
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
This study aimed to assess the nutritional status (BMI), oral health behaviour, sugar consumption and
the associated factors with dental caries among a group of 7 to 11 years old children in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Three hundred and twelve students were recruited from February to July 2013. Information gathered were their
socio-demographic characteristics, body mass index, sugar consumption, oral-health behaviour, oral hygiene
index and decay-missing-filled teeth (dmft) index. Anthropometry measurements and sugar intake was measured
using verified tools. Meanwhile, dmft was examined using the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. 53.7%
of the children were of the normal body weight with mean sugar consumption of 31.81±4.24 g/day. Prevalence of
dental caries was reported at 44.6% (95% CI: 42.2, 53.3) with a mean (SD) dmft of 1.27(1.84). No association
was found between dental caries and weight status distribution. Most children tend to brush their teeth 2 times or
more in a day (75%), however, they spent lesser time in tooth brushing (5.4%) and do not practice flossing
(78%). Regression analysis showed that age (p<0.001), duration of teeth brushing (p=0.023) and the oral
hygiene index (p=0.002) were significant predictors of dental caries among this group of children. Present
findings suggest that younger children, longer time taken to brush teeth and poorer oral hygiene index were
predisposing factors in dental caries, especially for young children. Hence, education on dental health is
important to improve oral health behaviour and oral hygiene practices to further reduce dental caries incidences
among young children.
- Full text:P020150708479934398775.pdf
