Relationship of dental caries and body mass index in preschool children

Abstract

Dental caries remains a problem with high prevalence also overweight and obesity in preschoolers in Mexico. Objective: To determine the relationship of Dental Caries and BMI in preschoolers. Material and Methods: We performed a crosssectional study with a sample of 348 preschool from Tepatitlán, Jalisco, measuring the body mass index, dental caries index, oral hygiene index and moments of sugar / day. Results: It was noted that the 348 children found a prevalence of caries 75.3% where only 0.4 ± 0.05 were fi the 56.3% were within normal weight and 43.7% were found with nutrition problems. Children who had higher dental caries index were eutrophic and severe obesity had more carious lesions. However, in overweight and obese children are those who had lower percentages of carious lesions. Conclusions: No signifi relationship between dental caries and body mass index in the study group, however, the prevalence of caries and nutritional problems in children of preschool age are high. Observed that with increased of oral hygiene index there is an increase in the dental caries index well-being of great importance to promote preventive oral care and early dental care.