Association of parental social media exposure with oral health-related nutritional knowledge, children’s dietary behaviour, and dental caries experience among parent–child pairs: a cross-sectional study

Social media influences parental nutritional choices, yet its relationship with children’s oral health remains insufficiently explored. This study evaluated the associations between parental social media exposure, oral health-related nutritional knowledge, children’s dietary behavior, and dental caries experience among parent–child pairs. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 parent–child pairs (children aged 6–12 years) attending a pediatric dental hospital in Pune, India. Data were collected via a validated multilingual questionnaire assessing parental social media exposure, oral health-related nutritional knowledge, and children’s dietary habits. Clinical dental caries experience was evaluated using the DMFT/deft index. Statistical analysis included Chi-square tests, Pearson correlation, and multivariable binary logistic regression (significance set at $ p < 0.05$). Consent and confidentiality protocols were maintained throughout. Parental oral health-related nutritional knowledge showed a moderate positive correlation with healthier child dietary behavior ($ r = 0.43, p < 0.05$). Both higher parental knowledge and healthier dietary behavior were negatively correlated with DMFT/deft scores ($ r = -0.31$ and $-0.38$, respectively; $ p < 0.05$). Multivariable logistic regression identified high social media exposure (adjusted OR [aOR] = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.68–4.08; $ p < 0.001$), frequent sugar intake (aOR = 3.58, 95% CI: 2.21–5.79; $ p < 0.001$), poor dietary behavior (aOR = 2.89, 95% CI: 1.78–4.69; $ p < 0.001$), and low parental nutritional knowledge (aOR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.29–3.21; $ p = 0.002$) as independent predictors of higher dental caries experience (DMFT/deft ≥ 3). The model demonstrated good fit (Nagelkerke R² = 0.36; Hosmer–Lemeshow $ p = 0.61$) and an accuracy of 76%. Greater parental social media exposure, lower nutritional knowledge, frequent sugar intake, and poor dietary behaviors are independently associated with higher caries experience in children. Enhancing parental digital health literacy and promoting evidence-based nutritional guidance on digital platforms are vital strategies for pediatric dental caries prevention. Longitudinal studies are recommended to confirm temporal relationships.