Eating behaviour and food choices in children with Down’s syndrome, autistic spectrum disorder or cri du chat syndrome and comparison groups of siblings

High sugar foods and beverages consumed frequently are associated with increased dental caries and periodontal disease. Based on parental survey responses, the diets of children with Down’s syndrome, autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and cri du chat syndrome and comparison groups of siblings were considered from an oral health perspective. In each group children who were frequent consumers of one high sugar food or beverage were likely to be high consumers of others, whilst other children were low consumers of high sugar foods and beverages. Children in middle and late childhood tended to consume more cariogenic foods and beverages than preschool children. For most children frequency of meal and snack consumption would allow little opportunity for remineralization of teeth.