ON THE RELATION BETWEEN THE CARIES OF THE TEETH OF INFANTS LIVING IN TOKYO CITY AND THEIR DIET

• Published in: JOURNAL OF DENTAL HEALTH Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 35 - 41
• Main Authors: NIWA, Teruo, NANBA, Junshi, TAKAHASHI, Sigemaro, HENMI, Tomoko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japanese Society for Oral Health 1965
• ISSN: 0023-2831; 2189-7379
• DOI: 10.5834/jdh.15.35

A total of 487 pupils ranging from 4 to 6 years of age, selected from 5 kindergarten in Tokyo City were investigated. Dental examination was conducted together with the nutrition investigation based on the Nutrition Survey in Japan. The investigation was conducted for three days from October 2, 1963. As for the nutrition, the amount taken was investigated for each item of investigation. As for the teeth, the number of caries was compared and observed for each kindergarten and each age group. The results were as follows. 1. In case of the total number of boys and girls, the carious teeth prevalence rate was 88% for 4 year old children, and 96% for 5 and 6 year old children. When these figures were compared with the national average shown in the Report of the Survey of Dental Diseases (1957) conducted by the Medical Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number was low for 4 year old children, high for 5 year old children, and the same for 6 year old children. As for the average number of carious teeth per person, it was 5.4 for 4 year old pupils, 8.1 for 5 year old pupils, and 8.1 for 6 year old pupils. They were all less than the national average. 2. As for 5 and 6 year old children, when the average number of carious teeth and the amount of the nutrition investigation items taken by each pupil were compared for each kindergarten and age group, the number of caries increased when the amount of candy taken was increased, and those taking sufficient amount of nutrition for all items of the investigation showed less caries. In case the average number of carious teeth is obtained for the 3, 5, and 6 year old pupils according to the month of birth, those born in August and September had the greatest number of carious teeth. Contrary to this, those born in January and June had less number of carious teeth. 3. The difference in this average number of carious teeth per person was assumed to be caused by the changes in the mother body owing to climatic changes and especially the nutrition, since infants born in August and September have the period of mineralization in the bad season of summer when it is high temperature and high humidity whereas, infants born in January and June have the period of mineralization in spring or autumn when the climate is very good.