Four basic taste perceptions and relationship with caries are poorly investigated in children as compared to adults.

The aim of this study was to evaluate salty, sweet, bitter and sour taste perceptions of school children and compare them with demographic, clinical, microbiologic and biochemical caries-risk factors.

Study design

1. Caries risk assessment The investigators developed a questionnaire to understand the patient's overall health status, to collect demographic and socio-economic information, to assess their oral health habits. The questionnaire consists of 3 parts; first part includes questions about general health such as chronic diseases, drugs and allergies, second part includes questions about income and education level of parents, and last part includes questions about oral health knowledge, habits, diet contents and frequency, fluoride exposure. the investigators allowed the parents to fill the questionnaire.

   After the questionnaire was filled, the investigators performed the oral examination using DMFT, DMFS, dft and dfs indices according to WHO. Then, the investigators determined the oral hygiene status with Sillness&Löe Index (Silness ve Loe, 1964). the investigators estimated paraffin-stimulated salivary flow rate, buffer capacity, mutans streptococci and lactobacilli counts using CRT chairside kits (Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein).

   In addition to initial questionnaire and oral examination, the investigators asked the patients to record their nutritional takings of 2 weekdays and 1 weekend day. the investigators estimated the caries risk profiles of all children using the Cariogram which is a computer-based program. Cariogram identifies three risk groups low, medium and high caries risk according the scores.

2. Taste evaluation the investigators prepared aqueous basic taste solutions of sucrose (Merck, Germany, purity >99.5%), sodium chloride (Sigma-Aldrich, USA, purity >99%), caffeine (Merck, Germany, purity >99.5%), citric acid monohydrate (Sigma-Aldrich, USA, purity >99%), at two levels (1.0 ISO, 2.0 ISO) (ISO 3972:1991, 8586-1:1993) (Table 1). the investigators formulated all the solutions by using spring water in the same day of measurement at room temperature (25 ± 2°C). Each solution was coded randomly.

Inclusion Criteria:

- without any chronic disease such as diabetes and being ASA I or ASA II. We only included patients who had no antibiotics and drug intake within the last month.

Exclusion Criteria:

- chronic disease ASA III, IV antibiotic and drug intake within the last month