THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KNOWLEDGE OF CARIOGENIC FOODS AND DENTAL CARIES EXPERIENCES AMONG STUDENTS AGED 12–15 YEARS IN PASAMAN REGENCY

Abstract

The current high rate of dental and oral disease is influenced by behavioral factors. This behavior is closely related to public knowledge about dental and oral health. Adolescents have more caries due to the habit of consuming cariogenic foods. According to the 2018 Basic Health Research (RISKESDAS), the proportion of dental problems in the 12-year-old age group was 82% and in the 15-year-old age group was 47%. This study aims to determine the relationship between knowledge about cariogenic foods and caries experience (DMF-T index) in students aged 12-15 years in Pasaman Regency. This study is descriptive analytical. This study used a quantitative method with a cross-sectional research design. The sampling technique used saturated sampling. Data analysis used the Chi-Square statistical test with p<0.05. The results of the study were knowledge about cariogenic foods. with criteria Good as big as 59.7% (77 person), criteria not enough Good 40.3% (52 people). Caries experience (DMF-T index) with good criteria was 55.8% (72 people), poor criteria was 44.2% (57 people). people). Results Chi-Square statistical analysis using a significance level of 95% (α= 0.05), The p-value obtained was 0.000 < 0.05. The conclusion of this study is that there is a relationship between knowledge about cariogenic foods and the experience of dental caries in students aged 12-15 years in Pasaman Regency.