Alleviation: An International Journal of Nutrition, Gender & Social Development, ISSN 2348-9340
Volume 3, Number 3 (2016) : 32-36
©Arya PG College, Panipat & Business Press India Publication, Delhi
www.aryapgcollege.com, www.apcjournals.com

Impact of Parental Literacy and Dietary Knowledge on Dental Caries of Preschool Children (2-5 Years)

Ruhi Grewal
Guest Faculty, Department of Home Science, DAV College, Yamunanagar
(Haryana), India
Email: ruhigrewal05@gmail.com

Introduction

Dental caries occur due to bacterial activities, improper dietary patterns, lack of brushing teeth, etc which lead to the breakdown of hard tissues resulting in dental problems. It is a process of tooth decay which has no starting or end point (Cadwell & Stallard 1997). Deciduous teeth erupt from 6 months and are lost by early teens. Teeth are most susceptible to dental caries soon after eruption, therefore peak age for dental caries is 2-5 years for deciduous dentition (Moynihan 2005).
Factors Affecting Dental Caries
• In the preservation of healthy children’s teeth, parental attitude towards the importance of oral hygiene plays a major role. Family creates an environment necessary for healthy lifestyle, increases self confidence and helps in habit formation (Vanagas et al 2009).
• Recent studies have stated that parental education especially mother’s qualification has a strong impact on dental caries of preschoolers. Low education families do not pay enough attention to dental care measures and regular visits to dental doctor, resulting in problem of dental caries (Pizzo et al 2010).
• Studies have reported that poor or lack of knowledge of parents about dietary habits and norms can lead to increased prevalence of dental caries in preschoolers (Hinds and Gregory 1995).
• Bacteriological studies have demonstrated that in children with early childhood caries, Streptococcus mutans regularly exceeded 30 per cent of cultivable plaque flora. (Berkowitz 2003).
• Dental disease affects what we eat; what we eat affects dental health. Oral structures are susceptible to unique destructive process which may be influenced locally by physical and biochemical characteristics of diet and systematically by natural defense system which in part is determined by diet (Dominick &Cheney 1979).

Methodology

Survey method was conducted in study of diet and dental caries. The focus of attention in survey was population rather than individual. This study was carried out in dental colleges of Chandigarh and Yamunanagar and dental status of children was determined. Random sampling method was used for collection of data. In this study, parents of preschoolers attending dental institute for regular checkups of their children also participated in the study along with their children. A questionnaire was designed to assess mother’s qualification, dietary patterns of children and on the other hand, information related to the dietary knowledge of parents was collected using short and simple interview method. A sample of 200 preschoolers was taken for the study from Chandigarh and Yamunanagar dental colleges. Statistical analysis of data was done using SPSS software.

Results and Discussion

Fig 1 shows that 88 per cent of post graduate and 94.4 per cent of undergraduate mother’s children are more susceptible towards dental caries problem as compared to mothers who are less qualified like 12th pass, 10th pass, 8th or less than 8th class and their children show less percentage of prevalence of dental caries. Saldūnaitė et al (2014) stated that parental education especially mother’s qualification has a direct impact on children’s oral health. Low qualified parents especially mothers do not pay attention to oral health hygiene, thus resulting in dental caries problem.

Another finding represented that 51.5 per cent of preschoolers were found to be sufferers of dental caries and consumed sugar at least twice a day (Fig 2). So a strong association existed between sugars and oral health. Tinanoff and Palmer (2000) showed that preschoolers were at greater risk of caries if sugar consumed at high frequency and retained in mouth for longer time.

It can be seen from the Fig 3 that 54.7 per cent of preschoolers suffered from dental caries due to high intake of carbohydrates i.e.>60.0%, 37.2 per cent of these children who were sufferers of dental disorders consumed carbohydrate in the range of 50.0 per cent - 60.0 per cent and 7.97 per cent of children consumed less than 50 per cent of carbohydrates. MacKeown et al (2000) showed significant increase in dental caries in young children with increasing energy, carbohydrate and added sugar. So there was strong correlation between carbohydrate intake and dental caries.

Conclusions

It was observed that qualified or educated mothers gave more attention to dental caries problem of their children by bringing them to dental hospitals whereas visits of children whose mothers were less qualified or educated were less. It was observed that knowledge of parents related to dietary norms and patterns was not satisfying as 51.5 per cent and 54.7 per cent of preschoolers suffered from dental caries problem due to high sugar and high carbohydrate intake respectively. Parental literacy and dietary knowledge had a great impact on dental caries of preschoolers.

References

Berkowitz R (2003) Causes, Treatment and Prevention of Early Childhood Caries: A Microbiological Perspective. Journal of Canadian Dental Association 69 (5):304-307.
Cadwell and Stallard (1997) A Textbook of Preventive Dentistry. London: W.B. Suanders.
Dominick PD and Cheney HG (1979) Preventive Dentistry: Post Graduate Dental Handbook Series. Massachusetts: PSG Publishing Company: 40, 45, 52,104.
Hinds K and Gregory J (1995) National Diet and Nutrition Survey: Children Aged 11/2 to 4 ½ Years. Report of Dental Survey, London.
Holm AK (1990) Caries in Preschool Children. International Trends Journal Dental: 291-295.
Mackeown J, Cleaton J, and Edwards A (2000) Energy and Macronutrient Intake in Relation to Dental Caries Incidence in Urban Black South African Preschool Children in 1991-1995: The Birth-to-Ten Study. Public Health Nutrition 3 (3): 313-319.
Moynihan P (2005) The Role of Diet and Nutrition in Etiology and Prevention of Oral Diseases. Bulletin of World Health Organization 83 (9).
Pizzo G, Piscopo M, Matranga D, Luparello M, Pizzo I, and Giuliana G (2010) Prevalence and Socio-Behavioral Determinants of Dental Caries in Sicilian School Children. Medical Science Monitory 16: 83-89.
Saldūnaitė K, Bendoraitenė E, Slabšinskienė E, Vasiliauskienė I, Kevičienė A, Zūbienė Suresh B, Ravishankar T, Chaitra T, Mohapatra A, and Gupta V (2010) Mother’s Knowledge about Preschool Child’s Oral Health. Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry 28 (4): 282-287.
Tinanoff N and Palmer C (2000) Dietary Determinants of Dental Caries and Dietary Recommendations for Preschool Children, Journal of Public Health Dentistry 60 (3):197-206.
Vanagas G, Milašauskiene Ž, Grabaukas V, and Mickevičiencė A (2009) Association between Parental Skills and their Attitude Towards Importance to Develop Good Oral Hygiene Skills in Children. Medicina 45: 718-723.