Oral health and feeding frequency of preschool children in a city in northern Brazil

ABSTRACT. Oral health and healthy eating habits are related to socioeconomic and cultural conditions of the population and imply the biopsychosocial health of the individual. This study investigated the oral health and feeding frequency of children attending a daycare in the municipality of Ananindeua, Pará State, northern Brazil. This was a cross-sectional study, quantitative and qualitative, descriptive, involving the examination of the oral cavity of children and questionnaires to parents, caregivers and those responsible for the daycare. Forty-seven children aged one to six years participated in this study; most were girls (57.5%). The daycare had no specific place for tooth brushing that was performed only once daily, without flossing. It was reported by parents that 48.94 % of children have never visited a dentist. On examination of the oral cavity we observed carious lesion (51.10%), dental calculus (42.55%), fluorosis (10.64%) and gingivitis (2.13%). It was found that the children had 3 or more meals and had the habit of consuming cariogenic foods such as soft drinks, candy and/or gum, even not being provided by the daycare. Most of the children had at least one decayed tooth, and the daycare offered a healthy diet, but the children had the habit of eating cariogenic foods