Soft drink consumption in pre-school children

Abstract

Consumption of acidic beverages has become commonplace in the average home. The aim of the present study was to evaluate beverage consumption habits and dental status in preschool children of a kindergarten.

The study population comprised 53 children attending a state kindergarten in Buenos Aires city, including 21 boys and 32 girls; average age was 3.86 years (± SD 0.98). The parents of the children filled in a questionnaire inquiring about general health, educational preventive measures, and beverage consumption. Twenty six children were randomly selected and subjected to dental examination, determination of their dmft and dmfs scores, loss of dental tissue according to Smith and Knight (1984). Frequency distribution of the variables included in the questionnaire was determined, mean and SE of the dental and salivary indicators was calculated, and correlation among variables was analyzed.

Frequency distribution showed that 9% took medication, 28% suffered from allergies, 6% suffered from asthma. The mean of sugar consumption was 4,76 ± 0,219 SE. Nineteen percent received topical applications of fluoride, 73% used fluoridated toothpaste. Forty one percent brushed their teeth 2 times a day.

The prefer beverage were regular juices in 89% of cases;69% soft drinks, 28% sport drinks, 19% drank soja.

The 40% consumpted before go to bed and eleven percent taked bottle. dmft was 3.38 ±0,779 (SE) the dt was 2,961±0,665 (SE)and dmfs was 5 ± 1,708 (SE).The ds 2,961±0,665 (SE) eighty one percent of clhildren presented loss of dental tissue; presented tissue loss on the occlusal / incisal and buccal surface.

The lack of preventive measures, the observed beverage consumption habits in early ages, and the increase in dental erosion, evidence the need to implement health education programs in schools.