Dental Caries Among Filipino Gradeschool Students On Lacto-Ovo Diet

The aim of this research study was to determine the dental caries prevalence among gradeschool students in a private school in North Caloocan City that offers a strict lacto-ovo vegetarian diet and compare it with students who opted for a regular diet. This analytical study aimed to explore the relationship between strict adherence to a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet and dental caries rates among students in a private school. After obtaining approval from the institutional ethics committee, validated self-made questionnaires were distributed to the participants. An oral examination was conducted to determine the caries rate among 72 volunteers. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to assess the relationship between the DMFT scores of students following a strict lacto-ovo vegetarian diet and those on a regular diet. The mean DMFT score of students on a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet was significantly lower compared to those on a regular diet, with scores of 4.66 and 6.75, respectively (P=0.040). Participants not following the lacto-ovo diet tended to consume higher amounts of sugar-containing foods and soft drinks, which may contribute to their increased rates of tooth decay. There were no significant differences in the correlation between sociodemographic factors and caries rates between the two groups. The results highlight the potential impact of dietary habits on oral health. These findings underscore the importance of promoting healthier dietary choices, particularly those that limit sugar and processed food consumption, as a preventive measure against dental caries.