Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2026 Sep 13. doi: 10.1007/s40368-026-01282-z. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare four different dietary assessment methods used for evaluation of cariogenic diet in children 2-15 years old.
METHODS: A total of 247 children, 2-15 years old, were recruited from the daycares, the paediatric and the orthodontic clinic of the University of Athens and the Airforce Hospital. Data were collected via questionnaires, referred to children’s oral health behaviours, and a 24-h diet recall. Diet was analysed using a Minute Acid Score (MAS), a Diet Score (DS) based on the Food Frequency Questionnaire, a Food Frequency Questionnaire Score, and the mobile application (APP) “Dental Diet”. The children were clinically examined by a calibrated paediatric dentist to assess dental caries experience (dmft/DMFT- ICDAS criteria). Pearson correlation and logistic regression models were used to detect relations between the different dietary analysis methods and dental caries.
RESULTS: Odds Ratio for caries in all age groups was 1.12-1.22 for the APP, 1.01 for MAS, 0.87-1.19 for FFQS and 0.86-1.49 for DS. Only the APP was found to be able to detect diet’s cariogenicity in correlation to dental caries (p < 0.001) in all age groups. FFQS and DS were correlated to dental caries at a statistically significant level (p < 0.05) only in preschool children. In the comparison of the two analysis methods of the 24 h recall, the MAS and the APP were in agreement in all age groups.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that the mobile application was able to detect cariogenic diet in children and can be a useful tool in dental practice.
PMID:42732489 | DOI:10.1007/s40368-026-01282-z
