Dental caries, sugar consumption and restorative dental care in 12-13-year-old children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

A 3-day dietary history was obtained from 363 Riyadh schoolchildren aged 12-13 yr, after which their dentitions were examined for dental caries. About 16-31% of the children were caries-free and the mean DMFT varied between 1.67 and 2.43. However, in those with at least one tooth decayed, missing or filled, the mean DMFT remained constant at about 3, irrespective of age or gender; and most of the carious teeth were unrestored. There was a statistically significant relationship between DFS and the frequency of sugar consumption on the first 2 days of the dietary diary. It is suggested that the management of dental caries in the children must include the control of dietary sugar.