Dietary Determinants of Dental Caries Prevalence and Experience in Saudi Schoolchildren: Frequency versus Quantity
Table 3
Linear regression models showing the influence of frequency and quantity of consumption of dietary intake on caries experience (DMFT).
Dietary items
Univariate regression coefficient (95% CI)
Multivariate regression coefficient (95% CI)
Frequency (≤once a week (ref) versus ≥daily)
Fruits
−0.32 (−0.62-(−0.2))
−0.17 (−0.47–0.13)
Biscuits
0.04 (−0.26–0.33)
Chewing gum
0.32 (0.03–0.61)
0.18 (−0.11–0.47)
Candies
0.31 (0.01–0.61)
0.07 (−0.23–0.38)
Fruit juice
0.48 (0.17–0.78)
0.48 (0.16–0.79)
Sports drinks
-0.23 (-1.02–0.56)
Energy drinks
0.66 (0.13–1.19)
0.29 (-0.28–0.86)
Soft drinks
0.50 (0.22–0.78)
0.46 (0.16–0.76)
Tea/coffee
0.08 (-0.2–0.35)
Sweetened milk
0.42 (0.13–0.75)
0.16 (-0.13–0.45)
Quantity (≤299 ml/day (ref) versus >299 ml/day)
Fruit juice
−0.23 (−0.09–0.56)
Sports drinks
−0.24 (−1.08–0.60)
Energy drinks
0.58 (0.05–1.10)
0.19 (−0.38–0.75)
Soft drinks
0.18 (−0.09–0.46)
Tea/coffee
−0.03 (−0.43–0.36)
Sweetened milk
0.29 (-0.17–0.74)
Frequency-quantity interaction
Fruit juice
0.02 (−0.01–0.04)
Sports drinks
−0.02 (−0.08–0.03)
Energy drinks
0.07 (0.03–0.11)
0.05 (0.01–0.09)
Soft drinks
0.05 (0.02–0.07)
0.03 (0.01–0.06)
Tea/coffee
−0.00 (-0.03–0.02)
Sweetened milk
0.07 (0.04–0.10)
0.06 (0.03–0.09)
Statistically significant at . Frequency-quantity interaction models were based on six-item graded categorical variables. Factors included in the multivariate model are those showing a significant relationship in univariate models. The multivariate model is adjusted for demographics and oral health practices.
