Association of Dental Caries Prevalence with Frequency of Cariogenic Snacks and Beverages in 12-Year Old Korean Children

This study analyzes the changes in the decayed teeth (DT) index and decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index among 12-year-old children. It also examines the association between the consumption of cariogenic snacks and beverages and the DMFT index. Data from the 5th (2012), 6th (2015), and 7th (2018) National Oral Health Surveys were used for this study. The final subjects were 12-year-old children who participated in both the oral examination and the survey. We conducted a complex sample logistic regression analysis, adjusted for relevant variables, to determine if the frequency of cariogenic snack and beverage consumption affected the DT and DMFT index. A higher frequency of consuming cariogenic snacks and beverages was associated with both the DT and DMFT index. Although the association between the frequency of cariogenic snack and beverage consumption and the DMFT index is trending downward, a new approach is needed to improve the oral health of children exposed to cariogenic snacks and beverages, as the link between their consumption and dental caries experience continues to change.