Researchers in Ajman, United Arab Emirates, checked the teeth of 285 first-grade children and found that about 9 out of 10 kids had cavities or early signs of tooth decay. The study discovered that kids who drink sugary drinks a lot are more likely to get cavities, while those who brush their teeth regularly with fluoride toothpaste have fewer cavities. Interestingly, children who only visit the dentist when their teeth hurt—instead of for regular checkups—had more cavities. These findings suggest that schools and health programs in the UAE should focus more on teaching kids about brushing teeth and limiting sugary drinks to prevent cavities.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How many 6-year-old children in Ajman have cavities or tooth decay, and what habits and choices affect whether kids get cavities
  • Who participated: 285 first-grade children from government schools in Ajman, UAE, along with their parents who answered questions about the children’s eating habits, tooth brushing, and dental visits
  • Key finding: About 85.6% of the children (roughly 9 out of 10) had cavities or tooth decay. Kids who drank sugary beverages frequently were about 2.4 times more likely to have cavities, while kids who brushed with fluoride toothpaste regularly had about half the cavity problems
  • What it means for you: If you have a 6-year-old, regular tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste and limiting sugary drinks are important ways to protect their teeth. However, this study only looked at children in one area of the UAE, so results may differ in other places

The Research Details

Researchers conducted a snapshot study of tooth decay in first-grade children in Ajman. They asked parents to fill out questionnaires about their child’s diet (especially sugary drinks), how often they brush their teeth, whether they use fluoride toothpaste, and how often they visit the dentist. Then, trained dentists examined each child’s teeth in school using a special system called ICDAS II, which can detect both obvious cavities and very early signs of tooth decay that are just starting to form.

This type of study is called ‘cross-sectional’ because researchers looked at all the children at one point in time, like taking a snapshot. They didn’t follow the children over months or years to see what happened next. Instead, they gathered information about what the children were doing now and what their teeth looked like now, then looked for patterns between habits and tooth decay.

The researchers used a special scoring system to measure cavities. They counted cavities that were clearly visible (advanced decay) separately from tiny early spots of decay that are just beginning. This gave them a more complete picture of tooth problems, including problems that might be caught and stopped before they become serious.

This research approach is important because it shows the real situation of tooth decay in a specific community right now. By asking parents detailed questions about daily habits like drinking sugary beverages and brushing teeth, researchers could see which behaviors were connected to more cavities. The special dental examination system (ICDAS II) was important because it caught early signs of decay that regular exams might miss—these early signs are important because they can often be stopped or reversed before they become permanent cavities.

This study has some strengths: it examined a decent-sized group of 285 children, used a standardized dental examination system recognized worldwide, and asked detailed questions about daily habits. However, readers should know that this study only looked at children in Ajman at one point in time, so we can’t be completely sure the results apply to all children in the UAE or other countries. The study also relied on parents to remember and report their children’s habits accurately, which might not always be perfect. Additionally, while the study found connections between habits and cavities, it doesn’t prove that sugary drinks definitely cause cavities in every child—it just shows they’re linked.

What the Results Show

The study found that tooth decay is very common among 6-year-olds in Ajman. About 85.6% of the children (more than 8 out of 10) had cavities or signs of tooth decay. On average, each child had about 5.8 cavities or decayed teeth. Additionally, nearly half of the children (47.6%) had very early signs of decay that haven’t yet become obvious cavities—these early spots are important because they might be stopped before they become permanent damage.

The research showed clear connections between daily habits and tooth decay. Children who frequently drank sugary beverages like soda, juice, or sweetened drinks were about 2.4 times more likely to have cavities compared to children who didn’t drink these beverages as often. This makes sense because sugar feeds the bacteria in your mouth that create acid, and that acid eats away at teeth.

On the positive side, children who regularly brushed their teeth with fluoride toothpaste had significantly fewer cavities—about half as many as children who didn’t brush regularly with fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent decay.

One surprising finding was about dental visits. Children who only went to the dentist when they had pain or problems had about twice as many cavities as children who went for regular checkups. This suggests that waiting until teeth hurt means decay has already started, while regular visits catch problems early.

The study also noted that the high rate of early-stage decay (47.6% of children) is particularly important. These early spots are like warning signs—they show that decay is starting but hasn’t become a permanent cavity yet. If caught early through regular dental visits, these spots can often be stopped or reversed with better brushing and fluoride treatment. This highlights why regular dental checkups are so important, not just visits when something hurts.

This is the first study in the UAE to look at both obvious cavities and these early warning signs of decay using the ICDAS II system. Previous studies in the region have reported high rates of cavities in young children, so this finding fits with what researchers already knew. However, by including the early-stage decay information, this study provides a more complete picture of tooth problems in the area. The connection between sugary drinks and cavities matches what many other studies around the world have found—sugary beverages are consistently linked to more tooth decay in children.

This study has several important limitations to understand. First, it only looked at children in Ajman at one specific time, so we can’t be sure the results apply to all children in the UAE or other countries. Second, the information about diet and brushing habits came from parents filling out questionnaires, and parents might not remember exactly how often their child drinks sugary drinks or brushes their teeth. Third, the study found connections between habits and cavities, but it doesn’t prove that one definitely causes the other—for example, we can’t say for certain that sugary drinks definitely cause cavities in every child, only that they’re linked. Finally, the study didn’t look at other factors that might affect cavities, like family income, access to dental care, or whether children have fluoride in their drinking water.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, here are evidence-based recommendations: (1) Children should brush their teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste—this showed strong protection against cavities in this study. Confidence level: High, based on consistent evidence. (2) Limit sugary drinks like soda, juice, and sweetened beverages—the study showed these are linked to more cavities. Confidence level: Moderate to High, based on this study and previous research. (3) Schedule regular dental checkups every 6 months, not just when teeth hurt—children who waited until they had pain had significantly more cavities. Confidence level: High. (4) Schools should implement tooth-brushing programs and education about healthy eating—the study recommends this as a way to reduce cavities in communities.

Parents of young children (especially 6-year-olds) should pay close attention to these findings, as should teachers and school health programs in the UAE and similar regions. Dentists and pediatricians should use this information to counsel families about cavity prevention. Children themselves can start learning about the importance of brushing and limiting sugary drinks. However, these findings are most directly relevant to children in the UAE and similar climates and communities; children in very different settings might have different risk factors.

You won’t see results overnight. It typically takes several weeks of consistent tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste to see improvements in early-stage decay. More obvious improvements in cavity prevention usually appear over 3-6 months of good habits. Regular dental checkups every 6 months help catch problems early before they become serious, so the benefit of checkups shows up over months and years, not days.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste (morning and evening) and count sugary drink servings per day. Set a goal of 2 brushings daily and limit sugary drinks to no more than 2-3 times per week. Use the app to log each brushing and each sugary drink consumed, then review weekly to see patterns.
  • Use the app to set reminders for morning and evening tooth brushing at specific times. Create a reward system where 7 days of consistent brushing earns a small reward. Also use the app to track and gradually reduce sugary drink consumption—for example, replace one sugary drink per week with water or milk until sugary drinks are rare treats rather than daily drinks.
  • Set up monthly reviews in the app to check brushing consistency and sugary drink intake. Schedule dental checkup reminders every 6 months. Track any tooth sensitivity or visible spots on teeth and note them in the app to discuss with a dentist. Over 3-6 months, you should see improvements in brushing habits and reduced sugary drink consumption, which should lead to fewer cavities at the next dental visit.

This research describes tooth decay patterns in one specific community in the UAE and should not be considered medical advice for your individual child. While the study identifies important risk factors for cavities, every child is different. Parents should consult with their child’s dentist or pediatrician for personalized advice about their child’s oral health, especially if their child already has cavities or other dental concerns. This study shows connections between habits and cavities but doesn’t prove that changing one habit will definitely prevent cavities in every child. Regular professional dental care and guidance from a qualified dentist remain essential for maintaining children’s oral health.