# Influence of Urban and Rural Areas, Type of School, and Parents’ Education Level on Nutrition Habits and Their Relationship with Dental Caries in Schoolchildren in Mallorca

## TL;DR

This study shows how nutrition habits and dental caries in Mallorcan schoolchildren are influenced by urban/rural location, school type, and parents' education.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific dietary patterns and their link to caries risk based on geographic and socioeconomic factors in schoolchildren.

## Key findings

- Rural 5–6-year-olds consume more sweets than urban children, increasing caries risk.
- Public school 15-year-olds eat more potato chips than those in subsidized/private schools.
- Lower maternal education correlates with fewer students eating dinner regularly.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Habits such as a diet high in sugars and poor dental biofilm control are linked to a higher prevalence of caries and low socioeconomic status. This study aimed to analyze the nutrition habits of schoolchildren in Mallorca and their relationship with the presence of dental caries, depending on the type of school, geographic location, and parents’ education level. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the prevalence of dental caries based on World Health Organization (WHO) standards and nutritional practices following guidelines from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). This study included 718 students from three age groups: first-year elementary students (ages 5–6), sixth-year elementary students (age 12), and fourth-year secondary school students (age 15). Relevant sociodemographic factors were also considered in the analysis. Results: In schoolchildren aged 5–6 years, higher monthly consumption of processed and sugary foods, such as sweets (rural: 24.66 (CI 95%: 20.30–29.02); urban: 19.29 (CI 95%:16.27–22.304); p = 0.044), was noted in schoolchildren from rural sectors compared to those residing in urban areas. At 15 years of age, there was a higher consumption of potato chips in public schools than in subsidized/private schools (public: 26.95 (CI 95%: 24.42–29.49); subsidized/private: 18.29 (CI 95%: 13.92–22.65) p = 0.004). A high consumption of sweets is associated with an increased risk of caries (OR sweets: 1.76 CI: 1.04–2.98; p = 0.035). Fewer students with mothers with a lower education level eat dinner (elementary: 75%; secondary 91%; higher: 98%; p = 0.003). Conclusions: Higher consumption of sweets in rural areas and potato chips in public schools, along with the association between sweet consumption and caries risk, highlight how geographic location, school type, and parents’ education level influence children’s nutrition habits and caries.