[Dietary habits and oral hygiene in school children in the city of Debrecen].

Acid products formed by bacterial fermentation of dietary carbohydrates in the dental plaque, are required for the initiation of dental caries. The aim of the present study was to analyze nutritional and oral hygienic habits of 216 schoolchildren (108 boys and 108 girls) aged of 7, 12 and 14 years. In the studied population children brushed their teeth after meals in 42.5, 54.3 and 38.1% (in the 7, 12 and 14 year age groups respectively). The additional hygienic aids (interdental cleaning: 32.5, 42.4 and 34.5%, oral rinse: 7.5, 27.2 and 23.8%) were used only by a smaller part of the studied groups. Consumption of dairy products and fruits was satisfactory. The habit of drinking carbonic acid containing soft drinks was rather high (%). Some (2.5, 10.9 and 7.1%) of the children drink it several times a day. Fluoride containing Dentocar tablets were used only in 42.5, 3.3 and 1.2% in the studied groups.