Objective To analyze the current situation and influencing factors of dental caries in preschool children in Qiaoxi District of Shijiazhuang City.

Methods A total of 1 518 children aged 3 to 5 years were selected from 5 kindergartens in Qiaoxi District of Shijiazhuang City by convenient sampling method for oral examination, and at the same time, the guardians were given questionnaires to investigate the conditions of knowledge and behavior of daily oral health care.

Results In this survey, there were 1 518 participants and 1 175 children with caries, the prevalence rate of caries was 77.40%, the mean decayed-missing-filled tooth was 3.58, and the soft debris index was (0.67±0.48); the prevalence rate of caries was 78.64% in girls and 76.20% in boys, respectively, which showed no significant difference (P>0.05); the filling rate of caries was 25.89%, and the pit and fissure sealing rate of primary molars was 8.30%; the prevalence rate of caries was 71.91% in children aged 3 years, 78.05% in those aged 4 years and 81.78% in those aged 5 years, respectively, and there were significant differences among different ages (P < 0.05). Multivariable Logistic regression analysis showed that age, willingness to treatment of caries of deciduous teeth, the time of the child's first oral examination, the feeding method of infants (aged 0 to 6 months), the choice of fluoride toothpaste, the brushing frequency per day and the eating situation after brushing before going to sleep were the influencing factors of caries in children aged 3 to 5 years (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

Conclusion Children aged 3 to 5 years have serious caries of deciduous teeth, and the education of oral cavity health care knowledge for children and their parents as well as the management of children's oral health care behaviors should be strengthened in order to reduce the risk of caries.