Prevalence of dental caries and associated factors among primary school children: a population-based cross-sectional study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Dental caries is a major oral health problem affecting 2.43 billion people (35.3% of the population) worldwide in the year 2010 [1]. A high burden of dental caries was evident among children in Saudi Arabia with an estimated prevalence of approximately 80% [2]; other high-risk areas include Latin America, Middle East, and South Asia [3]. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the need to reduce global burden of dental caries in attaining optimal health. Consequently, in the year 2003, WHO and Fédération Dentaire Internationale (FDI) World Dental Federation set global goals for oral health in 2020 to guide planners and policy makers to improve the status of oral health in their populations [4]. Unfortunately, knowledge gaps with respect to the availability of baseline data on oral health and population-specific key modifiable factors of dental caries restrict the ability of many developing nations and semi-developed countries, including Saudi Arabia to attain the goals set by WHO. In addition, competing interests in health care funding warrant prioritizing the associated factors to better direct public health mitigation efforts.

Although factors, such as occupational status, family income, and level of education of parents [5‐9] that affect the socioeconomic status of populace, have been associated with dental caries, their relative impact on dental caries compared to individual factors is unclear. Moreover, modification of socioeconomic factors requires time-consuming macro level changes. In contrast, individual factors, such as child oral health behaviors, child feeding practices, and dietary habits that play a role in cariogenesis, could be targeted for modification by directing the limited resources to primary school children. Prior evidence illustrates the importance of adopting good oral health behaviors such as regular brushing of teeth, using mouthwash, and flossing teeth in reducing the disease burden and attaining optimal oral health [10]. Similarly, the role of sugary foods (e.g., candies) in cariogenesis was also well established [11]. However, the relative significance of aforementioned oral behavioral factors on cariogenesis compared to other host factors could vary significantly in different populations owing to cultural and behavioral practices.

In our globalized world, constant migration of individuals and transfer of certain behaviors or practices (e.g., favoring flavored milk over plain milk among children) [12] is the prevailing norm. Therefore, the knowledge of associated factors for dental caries in Saudi children not only benefit Saudi populace but also international organizations such as WHO and health authorities in directing the mitigation efforts at vulnerable populations (e.g., children).

This study aimed at estimating the prevalence of dental caries in primary teeth and identifying key associated factors in 6–8-year-old school children in Riyadh city of Saudi Arabia would contribute towards the knowledge of dental caries by enriching the baseline data and determining population-specific risk factors of such a highly prevalent and preventable condition. Our analysis is the first in Saudi Arabia to comprehensively evaluate and prioritize factors encompassing all four major risk domains for dental caries, including parental socioeconomic status, children oral health behavior and practices, child feeding practices, and dietary habits. In addition, the relative importance of individual factors (over socioeconomic factors) as determinants of dental caries was assessed using extensive modelling techniques.

A population-based cross-sectional study design was employed to determine the burden of dental caries in primary teeth and key associated factors among 6–8-year-old male primary school children recruited from 12 government primary schools for boys located in 5 geographical regions (southern, northern, eastern, western and central) in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. The study included only Saudi nationals, whose parents were able to fill the self-administered questionnaire and provide informed consent for their child’s dental examination at school. Non-Saudi children or children with non-Saudi care givers or parents were excluded. This study was conducted in the year 2015 between September 1 and November 30.

A total of 578 primary school boys aged 6 to 8 years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were analyzed in this study. The prevalence of dental caries in our sample was 83% (95% CI 79.7–86.0%). About 17% (95% CI 14.0–20.3%) of children had no carious lesions. The age-specific prevalence of dental caries among children aged 6, 7, and 8 years was 87.6% (95% CI 82.4–91.6%), 72.9% (95% CI 65.9–79.1%), and 88.4% (95% CI 82.7–92.8%), respectively. The mean age and dmft score in our sample was 6.92 (SD ± 0.82) and 4.20 (SD ± 2.96), respectively.

Table 1 provides the frequencies, percentages, and differences (by caries status) for various characteristics of study population. A significant number of fathers (65.7%, 95% CI 61.7–69.6%) and mothers (73.9%, 95% CI 70.1–77.4%) did not attend a college or university, and their children experienced high prevalence of dental caries. Majority of the children came from low-income families (59.7%, 95% CI 55.6–63.7%), and approximately 99% of them experienced dental caries. Most of the study subjects lived in rental homes, and 77% had no dental coverage in medical insurance. In general, the children had poor oral health behavior and practices as most of them started brushing at a late age (5 or more years) and brushed less than once daily (55%) in any given week. The use of dental floss and mouthwash was negligible, and most of the children visited a dentist for symptomatic treatment. Although the practice of breast feeding is common, most of the children were weaned by the first year. The practice of mixed feeding was common in our sample; approximately 81% of mixed-fed children experienced dental caries compared to 93% of children that were exclusively fed with either breast milk or powdered milk. The practice of sleeping with a bottle in mouth and frequent consumption of sugary snacks between meals was also common. The consumption of fresh fruits and fresh juice was less prevalent in our sample.

The summary of variables selected during different steps of selection process is illustrated in Table 2. Barring few exceptions, almost all the factors were significantly associated with dental caries’ experience in univariate analyses (step 1). In the ensuing step 2 multivariate analysis, a limited number of factors were associated with dental caries in each of the four risk domains with more concessions observed among dietary factors. In the final step of model selection, the highly collinear child feeding covariate (i.e., age of the child when breast feeding was stopped) was excluded to address multicollinearity. Our model selection process yielded 12 variables that were significant at p < 0.05 for inclusion in the final model. Although association measures were not provided in Table 2 to avoid confusion, interested readers could find these details in Additional file 1.

The unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios along with their 95% confidence intervals (based on Firth’s bias correction) for the variables, representing all four risk domains, in the final model are reported in Table 3. It should be noted that factors representing low socioeconomic status, such as low level of maternal education, low family income, and lack of dental insurance, were associated with a minimum of fourfold increased dental caries experience. Child oral health practices, such as failure to brush teeth at least once a day, failure to start brushing on or before a child attained 2 years of age, and visiting dentist for symptomatic treatment, were associated with dental caries experience in children. Children habituated to sleeping with bottle in mouth experienced 4.4-fold higher dental caries compared to children not practicing this habit (aOR = 4.4, 95% CI 1.4–13.4). In addition, lack of mixed feeding and consuming two or more sugary snack items between meals were predominantly associated with dental caries experience (p < 0.05). Dietary habits, such as less consumption of fresh fruits and frequent consumption of soft drinks and flavored milk, were significantly associated with dental caries with an odds ratio of 11.6, 5.3, and 7.7, respectively. The final model was well calibrated (p = 0.7667; Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test) with very high discriminatory power (c-statistic = 99%) and high overall performance (adjusted R-square of 88%).

Subsequent exclusion of three variables representing socioeconomic status from the final model also resulted in a well-calibrated model (p = 0.3502; Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test) with very high discriminatory power (c-statistic = 98%). However, a slight reduction in overall performance from 88 to 80% was noted, signifying the influence of individual or personal factors (represented in the remaining three risk domains) on dental caries experience in children; the overall performance of model with variables representing socioeconomic status was 59%. In addition, the higher magnitude of adjusted odds ratios of individual factors (ranging from 4.4 to 38.4) compared to aORs of socioeconomic factors (ranging from 4.2 to 28.2) and the lower confidence limits that were consistently above 1.5 lend further support to the predominant influence of individual factors on dental caries’ experience in children.

Dental caries was prevalent among 6- to 8-year-old primary school children in Saudi Arabia (83%, 95% CI 79.7–86.0). We identified individual factors, encompassing three major risk domains (children oral health behavior and practices, child feeding practices, and dietary habits) that were predominantly associated with dental caries’ experience in our study. Especially, child oral health behavior and practices, such as brushing teeth at least once daily, starting the practice of brushing earlier than 2 years, and visiting a dentist regularly, were significantly associated with dental caries. In addition, children mixed-fed with both breast milk and powdered milk, children sleeping with bottle in mouth, and the practice of snacking two or more items between meals were linked to dental caries experience in children. Dietary habits, such as less frequent consumption of fresh fruits (once a week or less) and more frequent consumption of soft drinks and flavored milk (more than once a week), were significantly associated with dental caries in our study. In our sample, socioeconomic factors (less-educated mothers, low family income, and lack of dental insurance coverage) were less influential than individual factors in determining dental caries’ experience in 6–8-year-old male primary school children.

The high prevalence of dental caries observed among primary school children in our sample was consistent with previous studies in Saudi Arabia [14, 21‐24] and UAE [25]. A recent meta-analysis of various dental caries studies in different regions of Saudi Arabia determined the prevalence to be 80% [2]. Furthermore, the observed prevalence of dental caries among children in the present study was substantially higher than the target established for the year 2000 (50%) by WHO/FDI [26]. The collective evidence from our study and previous studies confirm the endemic nature of dental caries in Middle Eastern population and signify the burden on public health.

It is interesting to note that dental caries’ experience among primary school children was better explained by individual factors (80%) rather than socioeconomic factors (59%) in our study, which is consistent with weaker role of socioeconomic factors observed in developed nations [6, 15]. This notion was further supported by the relatively stronger associations observed between individual factors and dental caries experience in our study. In contrast, several cross-sectional and longitudinal studies from developing nations demonstrated the dominant role of socioeconomic factors in dental caries’ experience [18, 27‐29]. The risk profile of dental caries among children in Saudi Arabia appears to follow the theme in developed world, where oral health behavioral practices and dietary habits were relatively more important [30]. However, efforts directed at improving socioeconomic status should be continued, owing to evidence from the present study and prior studies that identified maternal education and family income as consistent associated factors for dental caries [16, 17, 27, 28]. In addition, the availability of dental coverage in medical insurance was associated with dental caries. Although literary evidence was inconsistent in Saudi Arabia [16], the alarming proportion of children (77%) that lacked dental coverage in medical insurance warrant further attention.

Our results were consistent with previous studies on dental caries that reported an association between dental caries and good oral health behaviors in general [10, 19], and tooth brushing habits in particular [31, 32]. A recent meta-analysis identified a 1.5-fold higher risk of dental caries among people brushing less than once daily compared to those brushing regularly (odds ratio (OR) = 1.56; 95% CI 1.37–1.78) [33]. An overwhelming majority of children started brushing after 2 years (82%, 95% CI 78.6–85.1%) in the present study, consistent with late adoption of brushing observed in previous studies in Saudi Arabia [20, 34] and in Philippines [35]. However, the higher risk of dental caries observed uniquely among children who started brushing late at 3 or 4 years, in our sample, warrant further investigation. Particularly, future studies could evaluate the possible role of cultural habit of using chewing stick (Miswak) for cleaning teeth on better outcome observed among children starting brushing at ages 5–6 compared to those starting brushing at 3 or 4 years in Saudi Arabia. Given the importance of brushing teeth regularly and mouthwash use in maintaining good oral hygiene and preventing dental caries [10], and lower prevalence of these habits observed in our study, detailed investigation of various brushing practices (e.g., use of fluoridated/non fluoridated toothpaste, and use of chewing stick for cleaning teeth), and other oral hygiene practices (e.g., use of fluoride containing mouthwash) among primary school children in Saudi Arabia is necessary. Furthermore, interventions aimed at encouraging good oral health behaviors among children should be undertaken.

The negative attitude or apprehension towards visiting a dentist was clearly evident in our study, where only 21.1% (95% CI 17.8–24.7%) of children visited a dentist for regular check-up, while the others visited for symptomatic treatment (e.g., toothache). The problem was even worse among younger children in Saudi Arabia; a mere 11% of children visited dentist for regular checkup on their first visit [20]. This dangerous trend might have prevented patients from availing sound advice on preventive oral health practices, thereby contributing to high prevalence, delayed recognition, and management of dental caries in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, Saudi children would benefit from publicly funded school-based dental screening programs that aid in timely detection and management of dental and other oral health problems. In addition, regular dental screening programs targeted at school children have an added benefit of realizing cost savings due to reduced need for advanced dental care [36].

The present study found a 4.5 (OR = 4.5, 95% CI 1.5–13.8)-fold higher risk of dental caries among children falling asleep with the bottle in their mouth, which was consistent with literary evidence [37‐39]. However, the magnitude of risk among Australian children sleeping with a bottle in mouth was much lower (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.1–2.2) [39]. It was suggested that decreased salivary flow and reduced swallowing reflex as the child gets drowsier would allow carbohydrates to remain in the mouth and pool around the teeth priming the area for bacterial attack [40, 41].

The practice of frequently consuming sugary snacks between meals was associated with dental caries in our study. However, current evidence has been inconsistent with some studies indicating a positive association [42, 43], while others failed to observe such a relationship [44]. Therefore, further evaluation and confirmation of this globally relevant predictor is warranted.

Although breast feeding is commonly practiced in Western countries [45, 46], the practice of mixed feeding or partial breast feeding (with breast milk and powdered milk) was predominant in Saudi Arabia [47, 48]. Children in our study that were never breast-fed had higher risk of caries, which was consistent with existing literature [49‐51]. Breast milk by itself was not cariogenic [52], but the reported cariogenicity of certain infant formulas [53] and a higher risk associated with practice of breast feeding until late infancy (> 12 months - OR = 1.99; 95% CI 1.35–2.95) [54] should not discourage the practice of mixed feeding until the emergence of new evidence. Interestingly, children in our study that were exclusively breast-fed also experienced higher risk of caries, rendering support to the practice of mixed feeding. As noted in previously published literature [54], it is possible that the practice of breast feeding until late infancy could have played a role in excess risk observed in Saudi children; however, further research based on a larger sample is warranted to confirm our findings and determine the role of duration of exclusive breast feeding on caries risk among children in Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, our study identified that eating patterns and food choices play an important role in dental caries experience in children. Interestingly, the observed association between flavored milk and dental caries in this study could be a result of evolving trends in milk consumption practices in Saudi Arabia. Although prior observational studies [55, 56] contrast our findings, a moderate cariogenic potential of flavored milk observed in a recent animal experiment and the possibility of developing nations adopting this new trend warrant further evaluation [57]. Incidentally, our study contributed towards ever increasing evidence for the association between dental caries and sodas (or soft drinks) [58‐60]. The acidic content of these soft drinks combined with sugars were known to reduce oral pH and increase the cariogenic potential of tooth [61].

It is noteworthy that low consumption of fresh fruits (less than twice a week) was associated with increased risk of dental caries among primary school children in this study. In contrast, the literary evidence did not provide a clear benefit of eating fresh fruits in preventing cariogenesis [62, 63]. However, certain fruit extracts (e.g., Morinda citrifolia) have been associated with inhibiting the growth of cariogenic bacteria [64], indicating the need to further evaluate the relevance of fresh fruit consumption to dental caries experience. In general, our findings were consistent with studies that linked intake of foods with high sugar content and dental caries in Saudi Arabia [19, 65] and other places [58‐60, 66].

The strengths of this study are multi-fold. Information from various risk domains was systematically analyzed to aid in prioritizing the modifiable factors associated with dental caries experience in children. Unlike several prior studies in this area [10, 14, 16, 19, 34], this study addressed the issue of multicollinearity and corrected potential bias from small sample in the analysis. The comprehensive nature of information collected encompassing various risk domains enabled us to evaluate the relative importance of individual factors over socioeconomic factors, a component seldom addressed in previous studies. Our study provides much needed baseline statistics on several population characteristics to aid not only local authorities, but also international organizations (e.g., WHO) to evaluate and improve the health programs aimed at mitigating the burden of dental caries in children.

However, certain limitations of this study should be considered while interpreting the results. A self-administered questionnaire was used as the main study instrument, which is subjected to recall bias. However, we do not expect our results to be grossly affected by recall, owing to recurrent and current themes tested in the questionnaire. For example, we would expect a more accurate recollection of tooth brushing habits and child feeding practices that were routine activities performed in the recent past; collection of information on flavored milk, a recent trend in Saudi Arabia, serves as an example for current themes. The study sample was restricted to 6–8-year-old male primary school children in Riyadh city of Saudi Arabia, which warrants caution in generalizing the results to the entire country; however, given the cultural homogeneity and urbanity of the area, we would expect our estimates to be relevant to general population. Our study does not support generalizing the results to girl children, as our sample was restricted to boys to comply with school regulations and cultural sensitivities of Saudi population. Although some of our findings could be relevant to girls owing to shared cultural practices, future research should evaluate and confirm gender-related differences. Moreover, the cross-sectional nature of this study warrants against drawing causal inferences.

The burden of dental caries is high in Saudi Arabia with eight out of ten primary school children aged 6–8 years suffering from this preventable condition. Several individual factors encompassing three risk domains, including oral health behaviors and practices, child feeding practices, and dietary habits, were found to be more relevant factors associated with dental caries than socioeconomic factors. Our results were consistent with findings in developed world where poor brushing habits, lack of dental coverage in health insurance, and high consumption of sodas were predominantly associated with dental caries. Future research should focus on confirming some of the unique or globally relevant associated factors for dental caries identified in our study, including late adoption of brushing, frequent consumption of sugary snacks between meals, and consumption of fresh fruits and flavored milk. Our results support the development and implementation of public awareness campaigns or health education programs targeted at primary school children to promote good oral health behaviors, feeding practices, and dietary habits.