Inadequacy of Self-Implemented Preventive Measures to Control Caries Increment due to Poor Dietary Habits in 6 and 12 Years Old Children in Riga, Latvia

Aim. This study investigated whether the self-implemented preventive measures practiced
among the 6 and 12 years olds in Riga, Latvia can control the caries increment due to poor dietary
habits among this age groups.
Material and methods. Caries examination was performed on Thirty-eight 6 and thirty-nine
12 years olds by visual and bitewing radiographic examination at baseline and after 3 years. All
participants and/or their parents completed dietary habits questionnaires. The data was analyzed
using t-test, chi-square test, ANOVA and frequency tables, Wilcoxon and Fisher’s tests (α=0.05).
Results. The mean (SD) values of caries experience at baseline/3-year period in 6- vs.12-
year olds were as follows. DMFS: 0.72 (1.02)/3.13 (3.13) (p=0.0000) vs. 6.79 (5.14)/14.79 (9.86)
(p=0.0000); dmfs: 11.26(8.71)/7.74 (4.86) (p=0.078) vs. 3.57 (2.03)/1.5 (0.71) (p=0.317). The
statistical significance was reported only for the consumption of soft drinks (p=0.032) and sugared
tea (p=0.018) for the 6 years olds, and for sugared tea (p=0.017) and number of teaspoons of sugar
added to tea (p=0.0095) for the 12-years olds. There was positive caries increment in all the 6 and
12 years olds that reported significant increase in consumption of soft drinks and sugared tea, and
increase daily number of teaspoons of sugar used in tea.
Conclusions. The present study demonstrated high cariogenic diet among the children in Riga,
which is associated with increased caries experience that the currently practiced self-implemented
oral hygiene measures was not capable of controlling.