Tooth decay is a social problem that mainly affects children and young people. The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of dietary habits and dental hygiene on the incidence of dental caries. The study was conducted among 50 pupils (25 boys and 25 girls) from primary and junior high schools. Food frequency questionnaire was used in order to analyze dietary habits of participants. The students daily consumed wheat bread, 3-4 times a week sugar, butter, sweets, yogurt, milk and cheese. Twice a week they ate cereals, pasta, rice, poultry, eggs, pork, dried fruit, chips, crisps, salty sticks, vegetables and fruit juice. Once a month they ate legume seeds, fish, whole-meal bread, white cheese, vegetable oils and margarine. 60% of the subjects controlled the state of their teeth more often than once every six months, 24% once every six months, 16% less often than once every six months. Fluorine prophylaxis was not used by 28% of the pupils (boys - 40%, girls - 16%; p<0.05). The majority of children (66%) brushed teeth twice a day, 22% pupils brushed teeth once a day, and 12% of the examined children brushed teeth after every meal. The study group was characterized by the high caries severity (84%). Only 8 children were free of caries. Caries were observed at higher rate in boys (88%) than in girls (80%) (p<0.05). It is necessary to increase the awareness of children and parents about the influence of nutrition and dental hygiene on the teeth condition.

THE INFLUENCE OF DIET ON TOOTH DECAY AMONG SCHOOLCHILDREN IN DĄBROWA TARNOWSKA, POLAND