title: Association of caries increment in preschool children with nutritional and preventive variables.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of various risk factors on dental caries increment in deciduous teeth of preschool children over 2.5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal study was carried out in kindergartens in two German counties in Northern Hesse. At baseline examination in 2006-2007, the mean age of the children was 3.5 years. Caries experience was recorded according to WHO standards. Information about feeding practices during early childhood and preventive measures were collected by a structured questionnaire for each child.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred ninety-five (69.8%) of the 566 children showed no caries increment. A caries increase of 1 to 10 dmf-teeth was exhibited by 171 children (30.2%). The mean dmf-t increment amounted to 0.75. The bivariate analysis revealed that the consumption of sugary food and beverages had a negative impact on oral health. Early start of toothbrushing, use of fluoridated children's toothpaste, and frequent toothbrushing exerted a positive influence on dental health. Stepwise backward logistic regression analysis confirmed that a high social status has a significant positive impact on dental health (p = 0.028), whereas the consumption of sugary food and beverages was significantly associated with a higher dental caries increment (p = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obviously, it is not possible to limit the caries increment in children of low socioeconomic status as successfully as in children of high socioeconomic status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There must be a stronger focus on families of low socioeconomic status when preventive measures are performed on groups or individuals.
authors: , Marburg, Germany. juli.winter@gmx.de.
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Winter
authors: , Marburg, Germany.
authors: Marion
authors: M
authors: Glaser
authors: , Marburg, Germany.
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Heinzel-Gutenbrunner
authors: , Marburg, Germany.
authors: Klaus
authors: K
authors: Pieper
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Caries increment; Dental prevention; Fluoride; Longitudinal; Nutrition; Preschool child