[Association between eating behavior patterns and dental caries in a pediatric population ‒ A cross-sectional study]

Introduction: pediatric population adhering to a nutritionally balanced diet are less likely to suffer from severe dental caries than those consuming a diet high in sugars. Objectives: the aim of this study was to establish the relationship between dental caries and eating behavior patterns using the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) in a sample of children aged 3 to 9 years attending the Dental Clinic of the Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir. Material and methods: the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) was utilized to investigate their eating behavior patterns. This questionnaire encompasses two dimensions: Pro-feeding, which encourages food intake, and Anti-feeding. Prior to their involvement in the study, parents or guardians provided informed consent by signing a consent form. Results: a total of 382 children underwent examination, and their caries presence was assessed through the International Caries Classification and Management System (ICCMS). The p-values of the contrast statistics for the Anti-feeding and Pro-feeding dimensions were both less than 0.05. That is, there are significant differences between Pro-feeding and Anti-feeding values depending on the tooth status. Conclusions: we can conclude that eating behavior patterns in children may be a risk factor associated with childhood caries.