Risk Factors for Caries in Children from South-Western Nigeria

Objective: The objective of this study was to understand the relationship between relevant socio-economic,biological and behavioral indicators and dental caries experience of Nigerian children.

Method: A cross sectional study design was utilized. The study population consisted of children who visited two Child Dental Health Clinics in South Western Nigeria. Information collected include demographic data,feeding practices, dietary habit, use of medications and daily frequency of tooth brushing. The number of decayed, filled and missing teeth (dmft/DMFT) was noted for children with caries. A stepwise logistic regression analysis was carried to select the best predictor for the presence of caries and for high caries levels (a dmft/DMFT greater than 3).

Results: The only predictor for caries was age with the possibility of having caries being 0.89 (11% reduced odds) for every year increase in age (95% CI 0.82 to 0.97) p=0.008. However, the predictor for a high caries level was age and gender; the odds of having a dmft/DMFT equal to or higher than 3 was 0.80 (20% reduced odds) for every year increase in age (95% CI 0.72 to 0.88) p<0.001 and 0.57 (43% reduced odds) for every female child (95% CI 0.33 to 0.98) p=0.04 compared to a male child.

Conclusion: Children from this study population who consumed sugar once a day are at risk of developing caries. Also, male children whose daily consumption of sugar was equal to or greater than three times daily,were at risk for having a dmft/DMFT higher than 3.

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