title: Dietary patterns and oral health in schoolchildren from Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.
abstract: This study investigated the association between dietary patterns and oral health in primary-school children from Damascus. A total of 504 children aged 6-12 years were enrolled and food frequency questionnaires were distributed to their guardians to evaluate food consumption. Dental health was evaluated by gingival index and presence of untreated dental caries. Consumption of food groups was lower than recommended frequencies, whereas consumption of sugars was high. High sugar consumption (OR 5.26), low consumption of dairy products (OR 2.45) and poor oral hygiene (OR 2.98) remained risk factors for dental caries in multiple regression analysis. Poor oral hygiene (OR 18.5), high consumption of sugars (OR 1.82) and low frequency of tooth brushing (OR 1.98) also remained as risk factors for gingivitis regardless of all confounders included in the analysis. Comprehensive educational programmes about dietary patterns and their relation to oral health should be provided for children and their guardians.
authors: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Damascus, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Jaghasi
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Hatahet
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Dashash
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013593:Syria; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D019422:Dietary Sucrose