Introduction:

Scientific evidence has shown that adequate nutrition during the first years of life contributes to the development and functioning of the tissues of the oral cavity. Different investigations have shown the relationship between nutritional status and oral affections in childhood.

Objective:

To determine the relationship between nutritional status and oral health in children between 3 to 5 years of age attended at a Child Development Center (CDI) in the period 2022-1.

Methods:

Quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study, with an analytical component. The population consisted of boys and girls between 3 to 5 years of age cared for in a CDI, meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria. A univariate analysis was performed with descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis with Chi-square test and Fisher's test.

Results:

Nutritional status presented a statistically significant relationship with oral health. It is evident in the variables risk of overweight and risk for thinness with dental caries. It was shown that 32.2 % of the population presented caries and 3.2 % gingivitis.

Conclusion.

Good nutrition contributes to the proper development of oral tissues in the child population, therefore, the risk of oral pathologies, especially caries and gingivitis, is minimized. Likewise, it is believed that more research is needed in this environment to confirm it and raise awareness among the population.

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