Incidence of Dental Caries in Relation to Sweet Taste Perception and Dietary Habits among Students – A Cross Sectional Study

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of sweet taste perception on dietary habits among students. Furthermore, the relationship between dietary habits and caries was studied. METHODOLOGY: cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 college-going students aged 18–23 years from the Asan Memorial Institutions. The frequency of consumption of certain food items was analyzed from a Beverage and Snack Questionnaire, and the dietary record was obtained for 3 days. The sweet taste perception level was determined as sweet taste threshold and sweet taste preference. According to the sweet taste perception level, children were grouped into low, medium, and high. Decayed, missing, and filled teeth index was used for recording the incidence of caries. RESULTS: High sweet threshold and preference groups showed an increased incidence of dental caries compared to the low and medium threshold and preference groups. CONCLUSION: Sweet taste perception level influenced the dietary habits and intake of sweets. The relationship between the dietary habits and the caries was found to be significant.