Young children who skip breakfast might be fattening their chances of experiencing tooth decay, according to a study in the January issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.

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Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to look at the relationship between eating habits and cavities among children ages 2 to 5.

"Specifically, not eating breakfast every day was found to be associated with overall caries (tooth decay) experience and untreated decay in the primary dentition in children aged 2 through 5 years," the researchers wrote. "Our findings support the notion that even if the effects of poverty could be mitigated, healthful eating practices among preschoolers would contribute to further reduction in caries."

The findings weren't limited to low-income and minority children. The researchers found that higher-income kids were more likely than those living in poverty to experience tooth decay.

The researchers found no association between breast-feeding and tooth decay in young children.

Study Abstract