Toddler's eating habits predict dental cavities later

March 27, 2001 in Nutrition for Children and Teenagers, Nutrition Topics in the News

Toddler's eating habits predict dental cavities later

According to the study of 135 Finnish youngsters, eating habits at age three can help predict whether or not he or she will have a mouthful of cavities by the time they are age six, researchers report.

Those toddlers who consumed candy and juice more than once a week at age three and who also had tarter (bacteria-containing plaque) on the teeth, were nearly twice as likely to have cavities by the age of 6, compared with their peers who ate sweets no more than once a week, findings show.

Tooth brushing habits did not differ between children who developed cavities and those who remained cavity-free. The results support the idea that despite improvements in dental health due to better oral hygiene and the widespread use of fluoride, sugar consumption is still a major risk factor for cavities in children.

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