114 - Caries and Obesity Linked to Children Age’s First Sugary Intake

Early consumption of sugary foods and beverages is linked to childhood obesity and dental caries, with significant long-term health implications. 

Purpose: This study aims investigate the association between age of first sugary food and drink intake and the development of caries and obesity in children aged 3 to 5 years in Puerto Rico.

Methods: This study will include children 3 to 5 year-old enrolled in Puerto Rico's Head Start Program. Data collection consists of two components: (1) a caregiver-completed questionnaire on medical history, sociodemographic data, and dietary habits, using the Food Intake Frequency Questionnaire (OICAL) for sugar consumption; and (2) clinical assessments, including ICDAS caries evaluation and BMI calculations.

Results: Children with caries were introduced to sugary beverages at a younger age (10.97 months) compared to those without caries (14.84 months), though the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.082). A categorical analysis showed a significant association between earlier exposure to sugary beverages and caries (p = 0.023). No significant correlation was found between the age of first exposure to sugary foods and caries (p = 0.390). Children without caries had higher BMI percentiles (64.56 vs. 50.58), but no significant link was found between BMI category and caries (p = 0.128).

Conclusion: Early exposure to sugary beverages is linked to an increased risk of dental caries, while BMI did not predict caries development. These results underscore the importance of early preventive guidance on sugary beverage consumption to reduce childhood caries risk.