>> Lhe research is part of the Oral Health and Nutritional Habits Observatory project promoted by ADEMA, which has been carried out since 2018, following WHO and EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) protocols.
>> The research demonstrates how social and educational factors impact the oral health of more than 700 Mallorcan schoolchildren between the ages of 5 and 15.
>> Also, reveals that ss eating meals and consuming sweets is a cause ofs is presented as a cause that multiplies that multiplies tooth decay..
A study conducted by a team of researchers from the ADEMA University School, within the framework of the Oral Health and Nutritional Habits Observatory, has highlighted the direct impact of diet on the oral health of children and adolescents in Mallorca. This new research has been published in the prestigious scientific journal Children under the title “Influence of Urban and Rural Areas, Type of School, and Parents’ Education Level on Nutrition Habits and Their Relationship with Dental Caries in Schoolchildren in Mallorca” (Daniela Vallejos, Irene Coll, and Dr. Nora López-Safont).
The study, led by Professor Daniela Vallejos and led by Dr. Nora López-Safont, analyzed the nutritional habits of more than 700 schoolchildren in Mallorca, aged 5 to 15, from 28 educational centers. They were selected using stratified cluster random sampling, following the Pathfinder method recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
This approach allowed for the inclusion of relevant subgroups of the population with potential differences in oral health, taking into account not only age but also school type (public or private/subsidized) and place of residence (rural or urban). A total of 718 students participated, distributed across three key age groups defined by the WHO: children aged 5–6 years (first year of primary school), 12 years (sixth year of primary school), and 15 years (fourth year of secondary school).
>> The researchers recommend reinforcing dietary and oral health education from childhood, and taking into account the socio-educational context of each group when designing preventive interventions.
Data were collected using standardized WHO forms for oral health assessments. In addition, questionnaires were administered to determine the students’ eating habits and level of nutritional knowledge. These instruments were adapted from guidelines developed by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) and the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority).
The questionnaires were administered by a multidisciplinary team of health professionals (dentists, physicians, biologists, and nutritionists), who asked the students questions directly and recorded their responses. Unanswered questions were considered missing values.
According to Dr. Daniela Vallejos, the results show that children living in rural areas more frequently consume sugary foods, such as sweets, processed pastries, packaged juices, and soft drinks. At ages 5–6, rural schoolchildren eat more sweets than urban children (24.6 times per month versus 19.2 times per month). At age 12, they also eat more pastries and chips.
Among 15-year-olds, it has been observed that students from public schools consume more chips than those from private or state-subsidized schools (26.9 versus 18.3 times per month), as well as more sausages and processed juices. According to the researchers, “these differences are more closely associated with social, economic, and educational factors.”
Mothers’ educational level influences eating habits
The study also reveals that children of mothers with lower educational levels are less likely to eat all three main meals of the day, especially dinner. By age 15, only 75% of children of mothers with primary education eat dinner daily, compared to 98% of children of mothers with higher education. According to the researchers, “these dietary irregularities may be linked to an increased risk of cavities, as skipping meals has been shown to affect oral health.”
Cavities and sweets: a direct relationship
On the other hand, the ADEMA researchers explained that excess sugar remains one of the main risk factors for tooth decay. According to the study data, schoolchildren who consume sweets more frequently are significantly more likely to have cavities in their permanent teeth. In contrast, no significant associations were found with the consumption of soft drinks or juices, probably because these are consumed alongside main meals, while sweets are consumed between meals, prolonging exposure to sugar, they explained.
Better oral health has also been observed in children who eat all meals, especially breakfast and dinner. “Skipping these meals has been linked to a higher incidence of cavities,” they stated.
Conclusions and recommendations
The results suggest, the researchers explain, that factors such as geographic location, type of school, and parents’ educational level may be influencing children’s eating habits, and that these habits may have direct consequences for their oral health.
Given this situation, they recommend reinforcing nutritional and oral health education from childhood, and taking into account the socio-educational context of each group when designing preventive interventions.
The research is part of the Oral Health Observatory project promoted by ADEMA and is based on data collected in 28 schools in Mallorca between 2018 and 2019, following the protocols of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
It should be noted that prior to the start of the study, all professionals were trained and calibrated following the protocols established by the WHO. The training included theoretical sessions and practical exercises focused on caries detection and periodontal assessment. A four-day supervision session was subsequently conducted to ensure correct implementation of the protocol. To guarantee consistency and reliability among the different examiners, the level of agreement was assessed using Cohen’s Kappa index. A simple agreement of 98.7% and a Kappa index of 0.757 were obtained, indicating a high level of agreement between examiners, considered adequate to begin the study.