Hu Geng-Yu, Wang Wan-Ting, Zhang Fu-Bo, Zhu Sen-Yang, Hu Kong-Fei
Department of Stomatology, Yuyao Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Yuyao, China.
Front Public Health. 2025 Jul 15;13:1575937. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1575937. eCollection 2025.
Paediatric dental caries, a global public health challenge in developing rural areas, requires targeted interventions due to its links with socioeconomic, dietary, and hygiene factors. This comprehensive investigation aims to identify the risk factors for dental caries among 5- to 7-year-old children in Yuyao City, China, and to highlight the importance of early-life feeding practices in dental health.
This study investigates the risk factors for dental caries in Chinese children aged 5-7 years, providing a comprehensive analysis through a cross-sectional approach in Yuyao City. With a robust sample size of 415 children, the research examines social, dietary and oral hygiene habits to identify both risk and protective factors.
The findings reveal a prevalence of dental caries of 34.2%, with significant risk factors including rural residence, bedtime feeding habits and abnormal salivary pH levels. Notably, mixed feeding during the first 6 months of life is identified as a protective factor.
This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by highlighting the importance of early-life feeding practices in dental health and underscores the need for targeted oral health education in rural areas.
儿童龋齿是发展中农村地区面临的一项全球性公共卫生挑战，由于其与社会经济、饮食和卫生因素相关，需要采取针对性干预措施。这项全面调查旨在确定中国余姚市5至7岁儿童龋齿的风险因素，并强调早期喂养习惯对口腔健康的重要性。
本研究调查了中国5至7岁儿童龋齿的风险因素，通过在余姚市采用横断面研究方法进行全面分析。该研究以415名儿童为强有力的样本量，考察社会、饮食和口腔卫生习惯，以确定风险因素和保护因素。
研究结果显示龋齿患病率为34.2%，主要风险因素包括农村居住、睡前喂养习惯和唾液pH值异常。值得注意的是，出生后头6个月进行混合喂养被确定为一个保护因素。
本研究通过强调早期喂养习惯对口腔健康的重要性，为现有知识体系做出了贡献，并强调了农村地区开展针对性口腔健康教育的必要性。
