Abstract
Introduction:
Dental Caries is the most chronic infectious disease of childhood, caused by frequent acid production from the metabolism of dietary carbohydrates. Dental caries has been increasing among children due to the unlimited consumption of sugary substances. Although, dental caries is more prevalent in school children. Dental decay caries was lower in schools with sugar restriction, compared with other schools without sugar restrictions
.Aim of the study: The current study aims to assess the diet consumed by primary school children aged 9 to 12 years old during school days attending public and private schools, and reveal its potential cariogenicity. Subjects and methods: The study included 456 primary schoolchildren from public and private schools. The researcher selected the age group from 9 to 12 years. Children in the current study were from both gender girls and boys. The investigator divided the food into three categories rather than the normally adopted two. The first category, highly cariogenic food that are high in sucrose, and the second category non cariogenic food. The second category medium cariogenic food is comprised of food items listed by some authors as highly cariogenic but not recognized as such by all authors and the third category non cariogenic food. Results: The results showed, statistical significant difference was found between public and private schools in relation to the mean overall intake of highly cariogenic and medium cariogenic food, where the mean overall intake of highly cariogenic and medium cariogenic in public schools and among males was found unexpected higher than those of private with mean 1.4515 for the high cariogenic index and 1.3679 for the medium cariogenic index. Private school students are more likely to eat twice during school time then public schools, private schools 68.0%and public schools 51.2% almost half of the sample eat twice. The source of food differs significantly according to the school type. More than 40% of the public school students get their food from both the school itself and home. While, more than 55% of the private school students get their food from home. Conclusions: The highest cariogenic potentially food intake was at public schools. The highest frequency of intake of cariogenic potentially food was at private schools more than public schools which might make them at the end similarly affecting children tooth. Boys tend to eat more cariogenic food than girls. The source of cariogenic food in public schools was largely attributable to the canteens food and their home snacks while the source of cariogenic food in private schools was largely attributable to food brought from home. The public schools are delivering education programs regarding dental health in the education more than private schools. Even though public schools are proving awareness but the majority of students in public schools are not following the recommendations in their food selection .Lack of Nutrition plans in both type of schools. Lack of school policies limiting candies use as incentive in both type of schools and lack of monitoring of the canteens to ensure healthy food delivery in both type of school.
Recommended Citation
Mohamed YH, El-Shahawy O, El-sheikh M. Assessment of Diet Quality and its Potential Cariogenicity among School Children during School Days in Cairo Governorate: A Cross-sectional Study. Future Dental Journal. 2021; 6(1).