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Skipping Breakfast Ups Tooth Decay Risk For Children

Date:
January 15, 2004
Source:
American Dental Association
Summary:
Caregivers should beware that young children who skip breakfast might be fattening their chances of experiencing tooth decay, according to a study in this month's Journal of the American Dental Association.
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Caregivers should beware that young children who skip breakfast might be fattening their chances of experiencing tooth decay, according to a study in this month's Journal of the American Dental Association.

Using data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, study authors investigated the relationship between healthful eating practices (such as breast-feeding, eating breakfast and consuming five servings of fruits and vegetables a day) and dental caries in the primary teeth among children two to five years old.

“Specifically, not eating breakfast every day was found to be associated with overall caries (tooth decay) experience and untreated decay in the primary dentition in children aged two through five years,” the authors wrote. “Our findings support the notion that even if the effects of poverty could be mitigated, healthful eating practices among preschoolers would contribute to further reduction in caries.”

Tooth decay more likely for higher-income kids with poor eating habits

According to the authors, it is well known that minority children or children identified within lower socioeconomic groups, are more likely to experience caries compared with non-minority children or children in higher socioeconomic groups.

However, in their analysis of more than 4,000 preschoolers, the authors found that poor eating practices (not eating breakfast and eating fewer than five servings of fruits and vegetables a day) also were associated with caries in primary teeth among children not living in poverty and that these children were more likely to experience tooth decay than poor children.

“Poverty may be the more important cofactor in indicating caries risk, but healthful eating practices are an important factor in the overall, complex process that leads to caries experience in young children,” concluded the authors.

The authors found no association between breast-feeding and caries in primary teeth.

The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing more than 147,000 members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer and professional products. For more information about the ADA, visit the Association's Web site at http://www.ada.org.

Note: Although this article appears in the Journal of the American Dental Association, it does not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the American Dental Association.


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Materials provided by American Dental Association. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Cite This Page:

American Dental Association. "Skipping Breakfast Ups Tooth Decay Risk For Children." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 15 January 2004. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/01/040115080612.htm>.
American Dental Association. (2004, January 15). Skipping Breakfast Ups Tooth Decay Risk For Children. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/01/040115080612.htm
American Dental Association. "Skipping Breakfast Ups Tooth Decay Risk For Children." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/01/040115080612.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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