The dental caries experience, oral hygiene and dietary practices of preschool children of factory workers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Two hundred and thirty-seven children attending four Ministry of Industry nursery schools in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, were examined. Dental caries experience, oral cleanliness and soft tissue abnormalities were determined. 149 mothers of these children were interviewed and information was gathered about infant-feeding practices, weaning age, diet after weaning, toothbrushing and dental attendance. Dental caries experience was high, and only 36% of children aged 1-4 years and 4% of those aged 5-6 years were caries free. Only 15% of mothers reported bottle-feeding, but 70% of these used sweetened canned milk in the bottle. Oral hygiene was rated as poor in 80% of children and only 10% were reported to use a toothbrush. 43% of children were reported to have experienced toothache, but only 5% had been to a dentist.