KONDISI DEF-T DAN STATUS GIZI ANAK TAMAN KANAK-KANAK MEKAR WANGI TANJUNG SENENG

Abstract

Dental health is a crucial aspect of maintaining healthy teeth and mouth in the long term. Without proper oral care, teeth can easily experience serious conditions, such as tooth decay (caries). Many parents are unaware of the importance of their child's primary teeth. They think that all primary teeth will be replaced and only permanent teeth require care. They don't understand that if primary teeth are not properly maintained, they will decay. Decayed primary teeth can cause children to suffer from toothache, even leading to swelling around the teeth, making the child fussy, crying, unable to sleep peacefully, and losing appetite due to tooth pain when eating. If this condition persists and recurs, the child will lack the necessary nutrients, affecting their physical and cognitive development.The purpose of this study is to describe the def-t index and nutritional status of children at TK Mekar Wangi, Tanjung Seneng District, in 2014. This is a descriptive study aimed at understanding the overview of nutritional status and def-t index among children at TK Mekar Wangi.The results show that the def-t index of children at TK Mekar Wangi, Tanjung Seneng District, in 2014 is very high, categorizing them as severely underweight. It is hoped that parents will realize the importance of dental care for their children and pay attention to the nutritional intake provided.