IMPACT OF ORAL HYGIENE, DIETARY HABITS AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ON DENTAL CARIES AMONG CHILDREN AGED 5-8YEARS: A QUESTIONNAIRE BASED STUDY

*Dr. Aiswarya Ray, Dr. Bibhas Dey, Dr. Amitabha Chakraborty, Dr. Ananya Pal, Dr. Sarbojit Chakraborty, Dr. Krishnendu Bhowmik

ABSTRACT

Dental caries remains one of the most prevalent chronic diseases affecting children worldwide, with significant implications for pain, systemic health, growth, and quality of life.[1,2] While fundamentally driven by cariogenic bacteria fermenting dietary sugars, the etiology of caries is recognized as multifactorial, intricately woven with behavioral, social, and economic determinants.[3,4] This is particularly evident during the critical developmental window of ages 5 to 8 years, when children transition from primary to mixed dentition. During this period, establishing lifelong health habits is crucial, yet children are also highly susceptible to the caries-promoting effects of poor diet and inadequate oral care.

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