Assessment of the Healthy Eating Index-2005 As a Predictor of Early Childhood Caries

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a multifactorial disease resulting mainly from a time-specific interaction of micro-organisms with sugars on a tooth surface.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of dietary intake, as measured by the Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005) to ECC.

Design: Cross-sectional analytical study.

Methods: Sixty preschool children were equally divided into three groups according to their caries experience [Group 1: caries-free children, group 2: children with ECC, group 3: children with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC)]. The decayed (non-cavitated or cavitated), missing (due to caries) and filled tooth surfaces (dmfs) score was determined through visual dental examination for each child. Questionnaires were collected recording the demographic characteristics of the families as well as 24-h food recall forms capturing the dietary intake of the children during the previous day. Accordingly, the HEI-2005 score was calculated for each child.

Results: The caries experience of the children in this study was significantly associated with their age. Caries-free children showed significantly higher 'Whole fruit', 'Milk', 'Sodium' and total HEI-2005 scores.

Conclusions: The study findings illustrate the prominent protective role played by healthful dietary practices against dental caries in preschool children.