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Assessment of the Healthy Eating Index‐2005 as a predictor of early childhood caries
Author(s) -
Zaki Nadine A. A.,
Dowidar Karin M. L.,
Abdelaziz Wafaa E. E.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international journal of paediatric dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.183
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1365-263X
pISSN - 0960-7439
DOI - 10.1111/ipd.12150
Subject(s) - early childhood caries , medicine , early childhood , dentistry , healthy eating , cross sectional study , food frequency questionnaire , pediatrics , environmental health , oral health , developmental psychology , physical activity , physical therapy , psychology , pathology
Background Early childhood caries ( ECC ) is a multifactorial disease resulting mainly from a time‐specific interaction of micro‐organisms with sugars on a tooth surface. Aim The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of dietary intake, as measured by the Healthy Eating Index‐2005 ( HEI ‐2005) to ECC . Design Cross‐sectional analytical study. Methods Sixty preschool children were equally divided into three groups according to their caries experience [Group 1: caries‐free children, group 2: children with ECC , group 3: children with severe early childhood caries (S‐ ECC )]. The decayed (non‐cavitated or cavitated), missing (due to caries) and filled tooth surfaces (dmfs) score was determined through visual dental examination for each child. Questionnaires were collected recording the demographic characteristics of the families as well as 24‐h food recall forms capturing the dietary intake of the children during the previous day. Accordingly, the HEI ‐2005 score was calculated for each child. Results The caries experience of the children in this study was significantly associated with their age. Caries‐free children showed significantly higher ‘Whole fruit’, ‘Milk’, ‘Sodium’ and total HEI ‐2005 scores. Conclusions The study findings illustrate the prominent protective role played by healthful dietary practices against dental caries in preschool children.