Behaviors associated with consumption of beverages, including duration of exposure, are hypothesized to influence caries risk. However, behaviors influencing duration and pattern of exposures are not well characterized. Objective: Our objective was to identify the prevalence of beverage consumption behaviors hypothesized to influence caries risk in young adults. Methods: A Dietary Behaviors Questionnaire (DBQ) was constructed to query habits associated with beverage intakes including 1) frequency, duration and timing of intake (i.e., meal/between meals), 2) nature of container and/or straw use, and 3) holding/swishing practices. Beverages queried included milk, 100% juice, juice drinks, soda-pop, other sugared beverages and sugar-free beverages, including water. The DBQ was self-administered to students in the 1st- or 2nd-year of dental school (n =118) and an undergraduate introductory psychology course (n= 383). Results: Dental students had more frequent intakes and longer exposure times (i.e., number of occasions times length of occasion) to milk and sugar-free beverages than undergrads, whereas undergrads had more frequent intakes and longer exposure times to soda-pop (all p<0.01). Dental students were more likely to consume 100% juice (52% vs. 25%; p<0.001), juice drinks (38% vs. 16%; p<0.001), and soda-pop (35% vs. 12%; p<0.001) during meals than the undergrads. Undergrads were more likely than dental students to hold/swish milk (20% vs. 11%; p<0.05); 100% juice (25% vs. 3%; p<0.001); juice drinks (21% vs. 4%; p<0.01); pop (2% vs. 12%; p<0.01); sports drinks (33% vs. 13%; p<0.01); and sugar-free beverages (49% vs. 22%; p<0.001). Conclusion: Behaviors that increase exposure to cariogenic beverages were more prevalent in undergrads than in dental students who have received more education on healthy beverage consumption habits. These data suggest that oral health education should target beverage consumption habits. Supported by Grant T32 DEO14678-04.

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