Alimentación, factor clave en el índice de caries en la Estancia de Bienestar y Desarrollo Infantil 184 del ISSSTE.

Introduction. Caries is a multifactorial disease, characterized by the demineralization of the hard tissues of the tooth, based on four factors: host, microbiota, saliva and substrate; a diet rich in carbohydrates enhances its development in the oral cavity. A balanced diet can help prevent the carious process in the oral cavity. Caries has multiple etiological factors, it is preventable with good oral hygiene, which can help reduce it. Objective. Correlating the diet with the caries index in the Estancia de Bienestar y Desarrollo Infanti (EBDI) 184 of the ISSSTE. Methodology. A cross-sectional and analytical study was carried out, in 100 children, between 1 and 4 years-old, who were reviewed with an examination kit recording their data in a dental medical record, in January 2019. Results. A total of 100 children were examined, 63 male and 37 female. The caries index revealed that 58 were caries-free and 42 have a carious lesion. Ninety-one children presented complete deciduous dentition and seven showed rehabilitation of some dental organ. Discussion. According to the results, and in comparison with the literature reviewed, it can be attributed that a balanced diet from childhood is a key factor in obtaining a low index of dental caries; according in research in Spain, Mexico and Argentina (2016), the percentage of caries in the child population was 95%; therefore, emphasis can be placed on early prevention and the influence of diet to avoid tooth decay. Conclusions. Based on diet and the degradation of carbohydrates, coupled with good oral hygiene, it is determined that diet is a key factor in reducing the rate of cavities at an early age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]