There are many factors that cause caries. This cross sectional study is to describe
the relationship of oral hygience, dietary intake with caries experience among
UKM students. A total of 93 subjects (19 - 24 years old) participated in the
study. A food record for 3 days was used to assess fluoride ingestion from diet.
Fluoride Ion Selective Electrode was used to analyse fluoride content in foods
and beverages consumed. Foods frequency questionaires (ffq) were used to
assess frequency of sugary foods intake and calcium ingestion. Oral health
questionaire was used to assess the oral hygience status. DMFT (Decayed,
Missing, Filled teeth) index was used to describe the rate and accumulation of
caries in permanent teeth. Results showed only 20.4% of subjects were caries
free. The mean DMFT score was 3.80. The mean score for filled component was
the highest (1.88), followed by decayed component (1.64) and missing
component (0.27). The mean of fluoride and calcium ingestion per day were
2.13± + 0.96 mg and 454.79 + 208.9 mg respectively. Mean daily frequency of
sugary food comsumption was 2 times. The range of fluoride content in foods
and beverages were 0.04 to 25.64 ppm and 0.03 to 0.72 ppm respectively.
There were no significant relationship between fluoride, calcium ingestion
and frequency of sugary foods intake with caries experience. There was a
statistically significant relationship between oral hygience practices and caries
experience. (p < 0.05).