Association Between Feeding Problems and Oral Health Status in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

A number of studies have been made of mealtime behavioral problems and food selectivity in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), though not from a multidisciplinary perspective where diet and dental care are investigated in children with ASD. In the present study, the parents of 55 children with ASD and 91 children with typical development (TD) between 6 and 18 years of age completed the Brief Assessment of Mealtime Behavior in Children (BAMBIC) and a food consumption frequency questionnaire. A pediatric dentist performed an oral exploration of the participants according to the criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO). Food rejection and limited food variety were associated to an increased prevalence of malocclusion and altered Community Periodontal Index scores in children with ASD.