Healthier Food Choices Near Schools May Promote Oral Hygiene: Study

The study revealed that prevention programmes are important, but that school food environments play a vital role in the appearance of cavities in kids aged 8 to 10. Food choices in and around schools vary greatly and affect the general health of children. It is an environment that is often carefully observed to understand its impact on obesity prevalence, but rarely in relation to cavities.

The data collected for the QUALITY study (family study on the prevention of cardiovascular disease and Type-2 diabetes in kids and teens) was ideal for verifying children's dental health.

Over a period of two years, the team of researchers analysed various factors affecting 330 students at 200 schools, including socio-economic factors, school food environments and cavity prevention programmes. The findings suggested that programmes promoting healthy eating and good dental hygiene had a positive but relatively modest impact compared to children's food and socio-economic environments.

The researchers suggested that making this component part of the health promotion programmes alongside obesity.