Efetividade de um programa de orientação nutricional na prevenção de cárie precoce da infância

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of a nutritional advice program developed during the first year of life on ECC incidence at 12 months of age. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was carried out with 500 infants (200 intervention, 300 control). The mothers of the intervention group received nutritional advice in home visits at 10 days after the birth, followed by monthly visits up to six months and bimonthly visits at 8, 10 and 12 months. The orientation was based on the "Ten Steps for Healthy Nutrition", a national policy established by the Brazilian government with the support of the Pan American Health Organization. At 6 and 12 months, mothers of both groups were interviewed with regard to demographic, socioeconomic and dietary behavior variables. At 12 months, 157 children from intervention and 219 from control group were examined by one of the authors (C.A.F). Results: The mean number of decayed surfaces (including white spot lesions) and caries incidence were compared between the groups. There