Dietary intakes and caries experience in children in Limpopo Province, South Africa.

INTRODUCTION

The identification of a rural village with a very low incidence of dental caries among the children provided the opportunity to study the diets of children apparently not exposed to risk factors for dental caries and compare them with children who were at risk.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the diet, nutritional status and dental caries experience of 10- and 15-year-olds in an urban town (Malamulele) and a rural village (Mahonisi) in the Limpopo Province, South Africa.

METHODS

Dental examinations and anthropometric measurements were done according to standard procedures. Dietary intakes were assessed by four 24-hour recalls.

RESULTS

Mean dft/DMFT (decayed and filled deciduous teeth/Decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth) scores were 1.21 and 0.65 for 10- and 15-year-olds in urban Malamulele compared to 0.33 and 0.02 in rural Mahonisi. The percentage caries free in Malamulele was 36% compared to 88% in Mahonisi. The children in Mahonisi were shorter and lighter than those in Malamulele. Estimated fluoride intakes were significantly lower in Malamulele than in Mahonisi (p = 0.01). Mean total added sugar (all sugar not naturally occurring in foods) intake in Malamulele was significantly higher than in Mahonisi (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The most significant dietary differences between the two areas were total added sugar and fluoride intakes. The lower added sugar and higher fluoride intake among the rural Mahonisi children contributed to the lower dental caries experience.