{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,1]],"date-time":"2026-08-01T00:45:44Z","timestamp":1785545144021,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":75,"publisher":"JMIR Publications Inc.","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JMIR Form Res"],"abstract":"Abstract<\/jats:title>\n \n Background<\/jats:title>\n Tooth decay is an important public health concern affecting individuals of all ages. Dietary intake is critical to tooth decay prevention as both the types of foods and beverages consumed and how food and beverages are consumed (eg, frequency) can impact risk. Foods and beverages can both protect against and promote tooth decay.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Objective<\/jats:title>\n This study aims to explore information targeted to the public on diet and tooth decay available from websites of professional organizations and regulatory bodies in Canada and the readability of this information.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n Canadian websites of regulatory bodies and professional organizations for dietitians, oral health professionals, nurses, and physicians in Canada were thoroughly searched by 2 researchers (MF and JL) from June to August 2020 for information related to diet and tooth decay targeted to the public. Web pages were downloaded and underwent content analysis using NVivo software (version 12; QSR International). For each website, approximately 2 web pages focused on diet and tooth decay were selected to undergo readability testing.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n Overall, 213 web pages from 23 websites were found to contain information on diet and tooth decay. Of the 23 websites analyzed, 12 (52%) were from dental organizations, 7 (30%) from dental hygiene organizations, and only 1 (4%) from a dietitian organization. Messaging was present on numerous web pages focusing on diet and tooth decay and those that have other focuses (eg, oral hygiene tips for infants and children and general oral health tips). Messaging depth varied across all web pages, ranging from general advice (eg, consume a \u201chealthy diet\u201d) to specific recommendations (eg, amount of juice to consume per day). Many web pages targeted parents and school-aged children; fewer web pages targeted other age groups (eg, adolescents and older adults). Three major themes were identified: Foods, Beverages, and Behaviors to Limit; Foods, Beverages, and Behaviors to Choose; and Mixed and Other Unclear Messages. The most frequently discussed topic was sugar (mentioned in 67% of web pages). Sugar was often discussed in the context of limitation, infant feeding, and strategies for tooth-friendly consumption. The average Flesch-Kincaid grade level was 7.1 (SD 1.8), which exceeds the grade 6\u2013level recommendation.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n This analysis of web pages found that diet and tooth decay was heavily discussed throughout websites for Canadian health professional organizations, with many web pages targeting parents and school-aged children. The readability of many analyzed web pages was above the recommended grade 6 reading level. The development of comprehensive national guidelines related to diet and tooth decay would be helpful to ensure that consistent and clear messaging is available on this topic.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.2196\/59474","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,20]],"date-time":"2026-01-20T20:17:01Z","timestamp":1768940221000},"page":"e59474-e59474","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Canadian Professional Association Resources on Diet and Tooth Decay: Website Content Analysis"],"prefix":"10.2196","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-4933-2177","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Meg","family":"Fotheringham","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3161-3056","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laura E","family":"Forbes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9740-0593","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Petros","family":"Papagerakis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4380-1011","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jessica","family":"Lieffers","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1010","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"R1","unstructured":"World Health Organization. Global oral health status report: towards universal health coverage for oral health by 2030. 2022. URL: https:\/\/www.who.int\/publications\/i\/item\/9789240061484 [Accessed 15-06-2025]"},{"issue":"4","key":"R2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"392","DOI":"10.1177\/00220345211056247","article-title":"Global burden and inequality of dental caries, 1990 to 2019","volume":"101","author":"Wen","journal-title":"J Dent Res"},{"key":"R3","unstructured":"Statistics Canada. Canadian health measures survey. 2010. URL: https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/health-canada\/services\/healthy-living\/reports-publications\/oral-health\/canadian-health-measures-survey.html [Accessed 15-06-2025]"},{"key":"R4","unstructured":"Canadian Dental Association. Early childhood caries. 2010. URL: https:\/\/www.cda-adc.ca\/en\/about\/position_statements\/ecc\/ [Accessed 15-06-2025]"},{"key":"R5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2019.00328","article-title":"The burden of early childhood caries in Canadian children and associated risk factors","volume":"7","author":"Pierce","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"issue":"9555","key":"R6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(07)60031-2","article-title":"Dental caries","volume":"369","author":"Selwitz","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"issue":"6","key":"R7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.1016\/j.disamonth.2018.09.009","article-title":"Nutrition and oral health","volume":"65","author":"Gondivkar","journal-title":"Dis Mon"},{"issue":"1","key":"R8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"17030","DOI":"10.1038\/nrdp.2017.30","article-title":"Dental caries","volume":"3","author":"Pitts","journal-title":"Nat Rev Dis Primers"},{"issue":"1A","key":"R9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1079\/phn2003589","article-title":"Diet, nutrition and the prevention of dental diseases","volume":"7","author":"Moynihan","journal-title":"Public Health Nutr"},{"key":"R10","unstructured":"Canadian Dental Association. The state of oral health in Canada. 2017. URL: https:\/\/www.cda-adc.ca\/stateoforalhealth\/_files\/TheStateofOralHealthinCanada.pdf [Accessed 15-06-2025]"},{"issue":"1","key":"R11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1177\/0009922811417856","article-title":"Parental perspectives of early childhood caries","volume":"51","author":"Isong","journal-title":"Clin Pediatr (Phila)"},{"issue":"1","key":"R12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1472-6831-13-17","article-title":"Time loss due to dental problems and treatment in the Canadian population: analysis of a nationwide cross-sectional survey","volume":"13","author":"Hayes","journal-title":"BMC Oral Health"},{"key":"R13","volume":"82","author":"Schroth","journal-title":"J Can Dent Assoc"},{"key":"R14","unstructured":"American Dental Association. Caries risk assessment and management. 2023. URL: https:\/\/www.ada.org\/en\/resources\/research\/science-and-research-institute\/oral-health-topics\/caries-risk-assessment-and-management [Accessed 15-06-2025]"},{"issue":"5","key":"R15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"693","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jand.2013.03.001","article-title":"Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: oral health and nutrition","volume":"113","author":"Touger-Decker","journal-title":"J Acad Nutr Diet"},{"issue":"3","key":"R16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1752-7325.2000.tb03328.x","article-title":"Dietary determinants of dental caries and dietary recommendations for preschool children","volume":"60","author":"Tinanoff","journal-title":"J Public Health Dent"},{"key":"R17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jcpe.12672","article-title":"Nutrition, dental caries and periodontal disease: a narrative review","volume":"44 Suppl 18","author":"Hujoel","journal-title":"J Clin Periodontol"},{"issue":"9","key":"R18","first-page":"694","volume":"83","author":"Moynihan","journal-title":"Bull World Health Organ"},{"issue":"4","key":"R19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"281","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1467-3010.2000.00033.x","article-title":"Foods and factors that protect against dental caries","volume":"25","author":"Moynihan","journal-title":"Nutr Bull"},{"issue":"4","key":"R20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"595","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cden.2019.06.005","article-title":"Dietary implications for dental caries: a practical approach on dietary counseling","volume":"63","author":"Marshall","journal-title":"Dent Clin North Am"},{"issue":"4","key":"R21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"881S","DOI":"10.1093\/ajcn\/78.4.881S","article-title":"Sugars and dental caries","volume":"78","author":"Touger-Decker","journal-title":"Am J Clin Nutr"},{"issue":"1","key":"R22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"149","DOI":"10.3945\/an.115.009365","article-title":"Sugars and dental caries: evidence for setting a recommended threshold for intake","volume":"7","author":"Moynihan","journal-title":"Adv Nutr"},{"issue":"2","key":"R23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"168","DOI":"10.1159\/000489571","article-title":"Sugar restriction for caries prevention: amount and frequency. Which is more important?","volume":"53","author":"van Loveren","journal-title":"Caries Res"},{"key":"R24","unstructured":"World Health Organization. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children. 2015. URL: https:\/\/www.who.int\/publications\/i\/item\/9789241549028 [Accessed 29-03-2023]"},{"key":"R25","unstructured":"Canadian Pediatric Society. Healthy eating for children. 2020. URL: https:\/\/caringforkids.cps.ca\/handouts\/healthy-living\/healthy_eating_for_children [Accessed 20-01-2025]"},{"key":"R26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1159\/000455374","article-title":"Chapter 8: milk, yoghurts and dental caries","volume":"28","author":"Woodward","journal-title":"Monogr Oral Sci"},{"issue":"11-12","key":"R27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"387","DOI":"10.2298\/mpns1512387j","article-title":"The role of nutrition in caries prevention and maintenance of oral health during pregnancy","volume":"68","author":"Jevti\u0107","journal-title":"Med Pregl"},{"issue":"1","key":"R28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1475-2891-11-33","article-title":"Dairy products and calcium intake during pregnancy and dental caries in children","volume":"11","author":"Tanaka","journal-title":"Nutr J"},{"issue":"2","key":"R29","first-page":"103","volume":"39","author":"Marghalani","journal-title":"Pediatr Dent"},{"issue":"3","key":"R30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/14651858.CD010743.pub2","article-title":"Xylitol-containing products for preventing dental caries in children and adults","volume":"2015","author":"Riley","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"issue":"2","key":"R31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"523","DOI":"10.1007\/s00431-023-05331-3","article-title":"Dental caries in children and vitamin D deficiency: a narrative review","volume":"183","author":"Dur\u00e1-Trav\u00e9","journal-title":"Eur J Pediatr"},{"issue":"4","key":"R32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/14651858.CD003716","article-title":"Written and verbal information versus verbal information only for patients being discharged from acute hospital settings to home","volume":"2003","author":"Johnson","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"issue":"3","key":"R33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.1111\/hir.12453","article-title":"Infodemiology for oral health and disease: a scoping review","volume":"39","author":"Gupta","journal-title":"Health Info Libr J"},{"issue":"5","key":"R34","first-page":"431","volume":"29","author":"Amini","journal-title":"Pediatr Dent"},{"issue":"1","key":"R35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12903-016-0196-x","article-title":"An analysis of the readability characteristics of oral health information literature available to the public in Tasmania, Australia","volume":"16","author":"Barnett","journal-title":"BMC Oral Health"},{"issue":"12","key":"R36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/jmir.7681","article-title":"Evaluating the dental caries-related information on Brazilian websites: qualitative study","volume":"19","author":"Aguirre","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"issue":"1","key":"R37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1080\/10852352.2018.1547304","article-title":"An assessment of the readability of online material related to fluoride","volume":"47","author":"Basch","journal-title":"J Prev Interv Community"},{"key":"R38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1590\/1807-3107bor-2023.vol37.0049","article-title":"Exploring online oral health misinformation: a content analysis","volume":"37","author":"Lotto","journal-title":"Braz Oral Res"},{"issue":"4","key":"R39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"253","DOI":"10.1111\/idj.12377","article-title":"Water fluoridation and the quality of information available online","volume":"68","author":"Frangos","journal-title":"Int Dent J"},{"issue":"7","key":"R40","first-page":"484","volume":"38","author":"de Oliveira","journal-title":"Pediatr Dent"},{"issue":"2","key":"R41","first-page":"32","volume":"63","author":"Mertz","journal-title":"J Mass Dent Soc"},{"issue":"6","key":"R42","first-page":"185","volume":"63","author":"Kim","journal-title":"Hawaii Med J"},{"issue":"10","key":"R43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/nu13103588","article-title":"Nutrition care practices of dietitians and oral health professionals for oral health conditions: a scoping review","volume":"13","author":"Lieffers","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"issue":"2","key":"R44","first-page":"81","volume":"27","author":"Morgan","journal-title":"Community Dent Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"R45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12887-017-0814-z","article-title":"Content analysis of nutritional information in paediatric oral health education leaflets","volume":"17","author":"Arora","journal-title":"BMC Pediatr"},{"issue":"9","key":"R46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1245","DOI":"10.1097\/ACM.0000000000000388","article-title":"Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research: a synthesis of recommendations","volume":"89","author":"O\u2019Brien","journal-title":"Acad Med"},{"key":"R47","unstructured":"Government of Canada Panel on Research Ethics. TCPS 2 (2018)\u2014chapter 2: scope and approach. 2018. URL: https:\/\/ethics.gc.ca\/eng\/tcps2-eptc2_2018_chapter2-chapitre2.html [Accessed 15-06-2025]"},{"key":"R48","unstructured":"WebFX. Readibility test. URL: https:\/\/www.webfx.com\/tools\/read-able\/ [Accessed 14-06-2020]"},{"key":"R49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.breast.2017.10.004","article-title":"Quality of online information on breast cancer treatment options","volume":"37","author":"Arif","journal-title":"Breast"},{"issue":"4","key":"R50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"735","DOI":"10.1007\/s00296-019-04265-0","article-title":"Accuracy, completeness and accessibility of online information on fibromyalgia","volume":"39","author":"Basavakumar","journal-title":"Rheumatol Int"},{"key":"R51","unstructured":"Wizowski L Harper T Hutchings T . Writing Health Information for Patients and Families: A Guide to Creating Patient Education Materials That Are Easy to Read, Understand and Use. Hamilton Health Sciences; 2008."},{"issue":"8","key":"R52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1350","DOI":"10.1002\/cncr.31928","article-title":"Evaluating cancer patient-reported outcome measures: readability and implications for clinical use","volume":"125","author":"Papadakos","journal-title":"Cancer"},{"issue":"9","key":"R53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1277","DOI":"10.1177\/1049732305276687","article-title":"Three approaches to qualitative content analysis","volume":"15","author":"Hsieh","journal-title":"Qual Health Res"},{"key":"R54","unstructured":"Saldana J . The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers. Sage; 2009."},{"key":"R55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/40003","article-title":"YouTube videos on nutrition and dental caries: content analysis","volume":"3","author":"Long","journal-title":"JMIR Infodemiology"},{"issue":"2","key":"R56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"134","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nutres.2013.11.004","article-title":"Knowledge, perceptions, and behaviors of adults concerning nonalcoholic beverages suggest some lack of comprehension related to sugars","volume":"34","author":"Rampersaud","journal-title":"Nutr Res"},{"key":"R57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s40608-018-0224-2","article-title":"Who drinks sugar sweetened beverages and juice? An Australian population study of behaviour, awareness and attitudes","volume":"6","author":"Miller","journal-title":"BMC Obes"},{"issue":"12","key":"R58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/nu12123888","article-title":"Knowledge about sugar sources and sugar intake guidelines in Portuguese consumers","volume":"12","author":"Prada","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"issue":"1","key":"R59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/nu9010037","article-title":"An online survey on consumer knowledge and understanding of added sugars","volume":"9","author":"Tierney","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"issue":"2","key":"R60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/nu12020394","article-title":"How much sugar is in my drink? The power of visual cues","volume":"12","author":"Merillat","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"issue":"6","key":"R61","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"923","DOI":"10.1007\/s12529-023-10214-w","article-title":"Perspectives on healthy eating of adult populations in high-income countries: a qualitative evidence synthesis","volume":"31","author":"Klink","journal-title":"Int J Behav Med"},{"issue":"13","key":"R62","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2408","DOI":"10.1017\/S1368980019001046","article-title":"What is healthy eating? A qualitative exploration","volume":"22","author":"Mete","journal-title":"Public Health Nutr"},{"issue":"3","key":"R63","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"146","DOI":"10.3148\/cjdpr-2015-014","article-title":"Awareness and knowledge of recommendations from Canada\u2019s Food Guide","volume":"76","author":"Vanderlee","journal-title":"Can J Diet Pract Res"},{"issue":"1","key":"R64","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-018-5540-4","article-title":"Are we really \u201ceating well with Canada\u2019s Food Guide\u201d?","volume":"18","author":"Slater","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"issue":"2","key":"R65","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.22230\/jripe.2015v5n2a215","article-title":"Interprofessional collaboration in addressing diet as a common risk factor: a qualitative study","volume":"5","author":"Ong","journal-title":"J Res Interprof Pract Educ"},{"key":"R66","unstructured":"Dietitians Association of Australia, Dental Health Services Victoria. Joint position statement on interdisciplinary collaboration between accredited practising dietitians, nutrition and oral health professionals for oral health and nutrition. Nov 2021. URL: https:\/\/dietitiansaustralia.org.au\/sites\/default\/files\/2022-06\/FINAL%20VERSION%20JPS%20OH_Nutrition%20Collab_20062022.pdf [Accessed 23-02-2024]"},{"key":"R67","unstructured":"American Dental Association. Policies and recommendations on diet and nutrition. 2023. URL: https:\/\/www.ada.org\/about\/governance\/current-policies#dietnutrition [Accessed 23-02-2024]"},{"issue":"2","key":"R68","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"321","DOI":"10.1111\/idh.12774","article-title":"Success factors and barriers in interprofessional collaboration between dental hygienists and dietitians in community-dwelling older people: focus group interviews","volume":"22","author":"Hollaar","journal-title":"Int J Dent Hyg"},{"issue":"1","key":"R69","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14049","DOI":"10.1038\/bdjteam.2014.49","article-title":"Oral health has become a priority for dietitians","volume":"1","author":"Pacey","journal-title":"BDJ Team"},{"key":"R70","unstructured":"Tribole E Resch E . The Intuitive Eating Workbook: Ten Principles for Nourishing a Healthy Relationship with Food. New Harbinger Publications; 2017. ISBN: 978-1626256224"},{"key":"R71","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1534525","article-title":"The need for effective interprofessional collaboration between nutrition and dentistry","volume":"13","author":"Kaye","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"R72","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/2374373521998847","article-title":"Readability of patient education materials from high-impact medical journals: a 20-year analysis","volume":"8","author":"Rooney","journal-title":"J Patient Exp"},{"issue":"1","key":"R73","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/31820","article-title":"Assessment of the readability of web-based patient education material from major Canadian pediatric associations: cross-sectional study","volume":"5","author":"Man","journal-title":"JMIR Pediatr Parent"},{"issue":"4","key":"R74","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1051","DOI":"10.1111\/jgs.16960","article-title":"Assessment of the readability of online patient education material from major geriatric associations","volume":"69","author":"van Ballegooie","journal-title":"J Am Geriatr Soc"},{"issue":"2","key":"R75","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare10020234","article-title":"Assessment of the readability and quality of online patient education material for chronic medical conditions","volume":"10","author":"Hoang","journal-title":"Healthcare (Basel)"}],"container-title":["JMIR Formative Research"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/formative.jmir.org\/2026\/1\/e59474","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]],"date-time":"2026-07-31T22:32:27Z","timestamp":1785537147000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/formative.jmir.org\/2026\/1\/e59474"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,20]]},"references-count":75,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2196\/59474","relation":{},"ISSN":["2561-326X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2561-326X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,20]]},"article-number":"v10i4e59474"}}