Dental caries and sugar intake of children from rural areas with differentwater fluoride levels in Paraiba, Brazil

Few reports have investigated caries prevalence in rural areas of Brazil. O bjective: The aim of this study was to observe the caries prevalence (DMFT, DMFS) in 12-year-old children living in rural villages of Paraiba, Brazil with low and moderate fluoride levels in the drinking water and to relate i t to sugar intake and oral hygiene. Methods: One hundred and ninety four ch ildren from 13 villages were grouped according to the water fluoride levels : low fluoride (LF, <0.2 ppm F, 96 children) and moderate fluoride (MF, 0.7 -1.0 ppm F, 98 children). Caries and oral hygiene (OHI-S) were scored accor ding to WHO criteria. Sugar intake was assessed through interviews. A sub-s et of subjects (n = 23) from the LF group was re-examined 2 years later. Re sults: For the LF and MF groups the DMFT (mean, SD) observed was 3.9 (3.7) and 2.5 (2.1) respectively, the DMFS was 9.2 (10.6) and 5.4 (5.7). Both ind exes (DMFT, DMFS) showed significant differences (P<0.01, Mann-Whitney U-te st) according to the fluoride levels in the drinking water. The mean increm ent of caries in the sub-set group of subjects was approximately 1.5 surfac es per subject/year. The reported sugar intake was low for both water fluor ide groups (P>0.05). In a regression analysis the water fluoride levels, th e use of fluoridated toothpaste and oral hygiene index were related to DMFS (R-2 = 0.08, P less than or equal to 0.05). Conclusions: Caries prevalence was lower in MF than in LF rural areas of Paraiba. Caries and sugar intake seems to be lower in rural areas than in urban areas of Paraiba with simil ar fluoride levels in the drinking water.