Factors associated with dental caries among selected urban school children in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to assess the nutritional status (BMI), oral health behaviour, sugar consumption and the associated factors with dental caries among a group of 7 to 11 years old children in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Three hundred and twelve students were recruited from February to July 2013. Information gathered were their socio-demographic characteristics, body mass index, sugar consumption, oral-health behaviour, oral hygiene index and decay-missing-filled teeth (dmft) index. Anthropometry measurements and sugar intake was measured using verified tools. Meanwhile, dmft was examined using the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. 53.7% of the children were of the normal body weight with mean sugar consumption of 31.81±4.24 g/day. Prevalence of dental caries was reported at 44.6% (95% CI 42.2, 53.3) with a mean (SD) dmft of 1.27(1.84). No association was found between dental caries and weight status distribution. Most children tend to brush their teeth 2 times or more in a day (75%), however, they spent lesser time in tooth brushing (5.4%) and do not practice flossing (78%). Regression analysis showed that age (p<0.001), duration of teeth brushing (p=0.023) and the oral hygiene index (p=0.002) were significant predictors of dental caries among this group of children. Present findings suggest that younger children, longer time taken to brush teeth and poorer oral hygiene index were predisposing factors in dental caries, especially for young children. Hence, education on dental health is important to improve oral health behaviour and oral hygiene practices to further reduce dental caries incidences among young children.