Oral health behaviors of children in low and high socioeconomic status families.
OBJECTIVE
This prospective longitudinal study compared the patterns of oral health behaviors between low and high socioeconomic status (SES) families participating in the Iowa Fluoride Study for a period of 9 years.


METHODS
Information on oral health behaviors, including consumption of juices/juice drinks, soda pop, and powder-based drinks, dental visits, and tooth-brushing frequency, was collected longitudinally at periodic intervals from 6 to 108 months of age. Dental exams were conducted at 5 and 9 years of age. Classification of low socioeconomic status (SES; n=70) and high-SES (n= 128) children was based on baseline family income and mothers' education levels, with middle SES excluded.


RESULTS
Low SES children consistently had significantly greater consumption of soda pop and powder-based beverages. There were, however, virtually no differences at any time point between groups in: (1) tooth-brushing frequency; (2) use of dentifrice; or (3) fluoride concentration in drinking water. Furthermore, the mean number of decayed and filled surfaces was significantly higher in the low-SES group.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that beverage consumption patterns are a key difference between high- and low-socioeconomic status families and could in part explain differences in caries experience between subjects of different SES. Modification of the pattern of soda pop and powder-based beverage consumption in the low-SES groups might reduce their caries experience.
Hamasha
Abed Al-hadi
AA
Department of Preventive Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid. hamasha@just.edu.jo
Warren
John J
JJ
Levy
Steven M
SM
Broffitt
Barbara
B
Kanellis
Michael J
MJ
D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires