High sugar foods and beverages consumed frequently are associated with increased dental caries and periodontal disease. Based on parental survey responses, the diets of children with Down's syndrome, autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and cri du chat syndrome and comparison groups of siblings were considered from an oral health perspective. In each group children who were frequent consumers of one high sugar food or beverage were likely to be high consumers of others, whilst other children were low consumers of high sugar foods and beverages. Children in middle and late childhood tended to consume more cariogenic foods and beverages than preschool children. For most children frequency of meal and snack consumption would allow little opportunity for remineralization of teeth.

Children with learning disabilities have increased risk of delayed development of oral-motor, feeding and social skills. Questionnaires on the eating behaviour of children  to  years of age with Down's syndrome, autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) and cri du chat syndrome and their siblings were completed by their parents. Most children including the preschool children were reported to have some level of self-feeding skills. Chewing problems were reported for some children in all age groups, including not only children with a syndrome but also siblings of children with Down's syndrome and ASD. The lack of chewing skills resulted in parents feeding pureed or mashed food to their children. As no child in the study was under  years, the reported feeding skills were at best delayed and at worst deviant. Behavioural problems at meals and with diet were common, particularly in children with syndromes and especially in early childhood.

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