ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dental caries, toothbrushing habits, fluoride intake, and factors associated with the use of toothpaste in Brazilian children according to socioeconomic status (SES). METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 148 three- to four-year-olds of both low and high socioeconomic status. Data collection consisted of administering a questionnaire to guardians, brushing to determine fluoride intake, and examining the children's teeth to evaluate dental caries. RESULTS: In this study, 42 percent of children from high SES and 2.7 percent of children from low SES used toothpaste without fluoride or with a concentration below 1,000 ppm F. Fluoride intake was associated with SES, frequency of brushing, the amount of toothpaste used, and the concentration of fluoride present in toothpastes (P<0.05). Low SES children had a higher fluoride intake during brushing (0.045 mg F/kg body weight/day), compared to high SES children (0.023 mg F/kg body weight/day). Unlike low SES children (68.9 percent), all high SES children were caries free. CONCLUSIONS: A lower socioeconomic status was associated with a higher prevalence of dental caries and a higher intake of fluoride from toothpaste.
