Dye Bruce A, Shenkin Jonathan D, Ogden Cynthia L, Marshall Teresa A, Levy Steve M, Kanellis Michael J
Analysis Branch, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, MD 20782, USA.
J Am Dent Assoc. 2004 Jan;135(1):55-66. doi: 10.14219/jada.archive.2004.0021.
As a result of the introduction of multiple fluoride vehicles and other preventive agents, caries prevalence rates in young children have been declining over the past two decades in the United States. However, changing dietary patterns in young children may offset some of the oral health benefits of fluoridation. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between caries in primary teeth and healthful eating practices in young children.
The authors used data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to investigate the relationship between healthful eating practices (such as breast-feeding, eating breakfast and consuming five servings of fruits and vegetables a day) and dental caries (untreated tooth decay and overall caries experience) in the primary dentition among children aged 2 through 5 years.
The odds of experiencing caries in primary teeth were significantly greater in nonpoor children who did not eat breakfast daily or ate fewer than five servings of fruit and vegetables per day (odds ratio, or OR = 3.77; 95 percent confidence interval, or CI, 1.80 to 7.89 and OR = 3.21; 95 percent CI, 1.74 to 5.95, respectively). No association was found between breast-feeding and caries in primary teeth.
Young children with poor eating habits are more likely to experience caries. Overall, the findings support the notion that dental health education should encourage parents, primary caregivers and policy-makers to promote healthful eating practices, such as eating breakfast daily, for young children.
Dental professionals are well-positioned to inform parents and caregivers regarding age-appropriate healthful eating practices for young children entrusted in their care.
由于多种氟化物载体及其他预防剂的引入，在过去二十年里，美国幼儿的龋齿患病率一直在下降。然而，幼儿饮食模式的改变可能会抵消一些氟化带来的口腔健康益处。本研究的目的是探讨幼儿乳牙龋齿与健康饮食习惯之间的关系。
作者使用第三次全国健康和营养检查调查的数据，来研究健康饮食习惯（如母乳喂养、吃早餐以及每天食用五份水果和蔬菜）与2至5岁儿童乳牙列龋齿（未经治疗的龋齿和总体龋齿经历）之间的关系。
在非贫困儿童中，那些不每天吃早餐或每天食用水果和蔬菜少于五份的儿童，乳牙患龋几率显著更高（优势比分别为3.77；95%置信区间为1.80至7.89，以及3.21；95%置信区间为1.74至5.95）。未发现母乳喂养与乳牙龋齿之间存在关联。
饮食习惯不良的幼儿更易患龋。总体而言，研究结果支持这样一种观点，即口腔健康教育应鼓励家长、主要照料者和政策制定者促进幼儿养成健康的饮食习惯，如每天吃早餐。
牙科专业人员能够很好地告知家长和照料者，如何为托付给他们照料的幼儿提供适合其年龄的健康饮食习惯。
