Prevalence of dental caries, patterns of sugar consumption and oral hygiene practices in infancy in S. Africa.

Dental caries is one of the most prevalent diseases of man and is the major cause of tooth mortality in the young. Although the precise aetiology of the disease is unknown, scientific evidence incriminates the interaction of three factors, viz. diet, plaque and the tooth. Several studies demonstrate a positive correlation between patterns of sugar consumption and caries experience. In contrast other studies showed no such association. This study investigated the frequency of sugar consumption habits, the mother's knowledge of oral hygiene as well as the oral hygiene methods she applies to her child and the prevalence of dental caries in infants between 1-2 yr of age. A representative sample of 100 mothers and infants from 10 child health clinics were interviewed. The results show that: mothers have a limited knowledge about oral hygiene and oral hygiene practices; infant sugar consumption habits seem to be influenced by the mother's sugar consumption habits; infants are introduced to sucrose containing food and drinks at the time of the eruption of the first tooth; the mean dmft(t) value in this group of infants was 2.37.