ABSTRACT
There are many factors that cause caries. This cross sectional study is to describe the relationship of oral hygience, dietary intake with caries experience among UKM students. A total of 93 subjects (19 - 24 years old) participated in the study. A food record for 3 days was used to assess fluoride ingestion from diet. Fluoride Ion Selective Electrode was used to analyse fluoride content in foods and beverages consumed. Foods frequency questionaires (ffq) were used to assess frequency of sugary foods intake and calcium ingestion. Oral health questionaire was used to assess the oral hygience status. DMFT (Decayed, Missing, Filled teeth) index was used to describe the rate and accumulation of caries in permanent teeth. Results showed only 20.4% of subjects were caries free. The mean DMFT score was 3.80. The mean score for filled component was the highest (1.88), followed by decayed component (1.64) and missing component (0.27). The mean of fluoride and calcium ingestion per day were 2.13± + 0.96 mg and 454.79 + 208.9 mg respectively. Mean daily frequency of sugary food comsumption was 2 times. The range of fluoride content in foods and beverages were 0.04 to 25.64 ppm and 0.03 to 0.72 ppm respectively. There were no significant relationship between fluoride, calcium ingestion and frequency of sugary foods intake with caries experience. There was a statistically significant relationship between oral hygience practices and caries experience. (p < 0.05).