Early childhood feeding practices and dental caries among Australian preschoolers

ABSTRACT Background Recent reviews have proposed a causal relationship between prolonged breastfeeding and early childhood caries (ECC), but the evidence to date is inconsistent, with few cohort studies and limited investigation of key confounders. Objective This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary practices and early childhood caries in a birth cohort of Australian preschoolers. Methods Participants underwent a standardized dental examination at 2–3 y of age to determine the prevalence of ECC (based on the presence of decayed, missing, or filled tooth surfaces). Breastfeeding practices were reported at 3, 6, 12, and 24 mo of age. Intakes of free sugars were assessed at 1 and 2 y of age. Multivariable regression models generated prevalence ratios (PR) for the association between ECC and breastfeeding duration, and between ECC and sleep feeding practices at 1 y, controlling for sociodemographic factors and free sugars intake. Results There was no independent association between breastfeeding beyond 1 y of age and ECC (PR 1.42, 95% CI: 0.85, 2.38), or between breastfeeding to sleep and ECC (PR 1.12, 95% CI: 0.67, 1.88), although the direction of effect was suggestive of an association. The only factors independently associated with ECC were high free sugars intakes (PR 1.97, 95% CI: 1.13, 3.44), and greater socioeconomic disadvantage (PR 2.15, 95% CI: 1.08, 4.28). Most participants who were breastfed at 1 y of age had ceased by 18 mo or 2 y. Conclusions Breastfeeding practices were not associated with ECC. Given the wide-ranging benefits of breastfeeding, and the low prevalence of sustained breastfeeding in this study and Australia in general, recommendations to limit breastfeeding are unwarranted, and breastfeeding should be promoted in line with global and national recommendations. To reduce the prevalence of early childhood caries, improved efforts are needed to limit foods high in free sugars.

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Effect of Sustained Interventions from Infancy to Toddlerhood in Children with Cleft Lip and Palate for Preventing Early Childhood Caries

Caries Research ◽

10.1159/000517210 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Sivasubramanian Abirami ◽

Noopur Panchanadikar ◽

Murugan Satta Muthu ◽

Suganya Balasubramanian ◽

Jyotsna Murthy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Cleft Lip ◽

Cleft Lip And Palate ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Primary Caregivers ◽

Assessment System ◽

Incidence Density ◽

Tooth Surfaces ◽

Childhood Caries

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of sustained interventions in children with cleft lip and palate (CLP) for preventing early childhood caries (ECC). This prospective, nonrandomized interventional cohort study was conducted in infants aged 0–12 months with congenital CLP. Interventions were given to parents/primary caregivers in the form of combined oral health-care measures (sterile wet gauze piece, finger brush, toothbrush, and toothpaste) by a motivational interviewing approach. Education of primary caregivers on oral hygiene was provided by audiovisual aids and demonstration. Reinforcement of the prescribed regimen was done through daily short message services in caregivers’ preferred language and bimonthly telephone calls. Participants were followed up for 9–32 months from the time of recruitment, with a mean period of 18.3 ± 5.1 months. Rates of dental caries were represented as prevalence rates, incidence density, and transitional probability. The distribution of the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) scores on different tooth surfaces affected in the intervention group was compared descriptively with that of the age- and sex-matched historical control groups. On analysis of surface-wise distribution of the ICDAS scores in the intervention group (n = 1,919), 1.2% (n = 24) had noncavitated lesions (ICDAS codes 1 and 2), 0.88% (n = 17) had cavitated lesions (ICDAS codes 3–6), and 0.26% (n = 5) had both cavitated and noncavitated lesions (ICDAS codes 1–6). The incidence density of caries-affected children observed at the first and last follow-ups was 1.2 persons/100 person-months and 1.3 persons/100 person-months of observation, respectively. The incidence density of new caries-affected tooth surfaces at the first and last follow-ups was 0.163 surfaces/100 surface-months and 0.062 surfaces/100 surface-months, respectively. Maxillary first molars had the maximum transition from sound to the cavitated lesion (11.5%), followed by maxillary incisors from sound to noncavitated (7.5%) at the last follow-up. Based on the newly developed assessment criteria in our study, sustained interventions proved to be significantly effective in preventing ECC in children with CLP.

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Feeding practices and prevalence of early childhood caries among preschool children in urban and rural areas of Kannur district

International Journal of Dental Research ◽

10.14419/ijdr.v4i1.5770 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 11

Author(s):

Aswathi Sreedharan ◽

Faizal CP ◽

Chandru TP

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Preschool Children ◽

Oral Health ◽

Oral Hygiene ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Parental Knowledge ◽

Hygiene Measures ◽

Childhood Caries

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions among children. Lack of proper Parental knowledge regarding feeding practices will have a deleterious effect on child oral health.Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence of ECC and parental knowledge regarding feeding practices in young children.Methods: 500 preschool children aged between 36-60 months, were selected from twenty schools. The children’s were examined at the respective schools to determine the presence or absence of caries by using WHO criteria .A structured questionnaire was provided to 500 parents of the respective school children examined to assess their knowledge regarding feeding practices and oral hygiene measures in preschool children for prevention of ECCResult: The results of the children examined and the parent surveyed were tabulated and statistically analyzed by using chi-square test. The result showed that the prevalence rate of ECC among 500 children surveyed were about 56.3%.The knowledge regarding the feeding practices and oral hygiene measures overall was found to be 56.5%Conclusion: The prevalence of ECC was relatively high among the preschool children. The feeding practices and oral hygiene measures among parents was more off supporting the promotion of ECC. More emphasis should be given regarding introduction of oral hygiene practice from the first year of child’s life and also to conduct public awareness programme to achieve optimum oral health care in children.

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Dietary Patterns and Risk of Obesity and Early Childhood Caries in Australian Toddlers: Findings from an Australian Cohort Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11112828 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 2828 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Lucinda K. Bell ◽

Celeste Schammer ◽

Gemma Devenish ◽

Diep Ha ◽

Murray W. Thomson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Dietary Patterns ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Cow’S Milk ◽

Free Sugars ◽

Cow's Milk ◽

Dietary Guideline ◽

Intermediate Outcomes ◽

Diet Pattern ◽

Childhood Caries

We examined associations between dietary patterns at 12 months, characterised using multiple methodologies, and risk of obesity and early childhood caries (ECC) at 24–36 months. Participants were Australian toddlers (n = 1170) from the Study of Mothers’ and Infants’ Life Events affecting oral health (SMILE) birth cohort. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and the Dietary Guideline Index for Children and Adolescents (DGI-CA) were applied to dietary intake data (1, 2 or 3-days) at 12 months, and regression analysis used to examine associations of dietary patterns with body mass index Z-score and presence of ECC at 24–36 months. Two dietary patterns were extracted using PCA: family diet and cow’s milk and discretionary combination. The mean DGI-CA score was 56 ± 13 (out of a possible 100). No statistically significant or clinically meaningful associations were found between dietary pattern or DGI-CA scores, and BMI Z-scores or ECC (n = 680). Higher cow’s milk and discretionary combination pattern scores were associated with higher energy and free sugars intakes, and higher family diet pattern scores and DGI-CA scores with lower free sugars intakes. The association between dietary patterns and intermediate outcomes of free sugars and energy intakes suggests that obesity and/or ECC may not yet have manifested, and thus longitudinal investigation beyond two years of age is warranted.

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Effect of Breastfeeding Promotion on Early Childhood Caries and Breastfeeding Duration among 5 Year Old Children in Eastern Uganda: A Cluster Randomized Trial

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0125352 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. e0125352 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Nancy Birungi ◽

Lars T. Fadnes ◽

Isaac Okullo ◽

Arabat Kasangaki ◽

Victoria Nankabirwa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Randomized Trial ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Cluster Randomized Trial ◽

Breastfeeding Duration ◽

Breastfeeding Promotion ◽

Cluster Randomized ◽

Eastern Uganda ◽

Childhood Caries

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Child Temperament Is as Strongly Associated With Early Childhood Caries (ECC) as Poor Feeding Practices: Positive Temperament Appears Protective, Negative Temperament May Increase ECC Risk

Journal of Evidence Based Dental Practice ◽

10.1016/j.jebdp.2014.04.029 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 85-88 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Robert G. Santos ◽

Rocio Quinonez

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Child Temperament ◽

Childhood Caries

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Feeding Practices and Early Childhood Caries: A Cross-Sectional Study of Preschool Children in Kanpur District, India

ISRN Dentistry ◽

10.1155/2013/275193 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Santhebachalli Prakasha Shrutha ◽

Grandim Balarama Gupta Vinit ◽

Kolli Yada Giri ◽

Sarwar Alam

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Oral Hygiene ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Caries Experience ◽

Oral Health Promotion ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Falling Asleep ◽

Childhood Caries

Background. Early childhood caries (ECC) is a public health problem due to its impact on children’s health, development, and wellbeing. The objective of this study was to assess the caries experience in 3–5-year-old children and to evaluate the relationship with their mothers’ practices regarding feeding and oral hygiene habits in Kanpur. Method. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken on 2000 (974 boys and 1026 girls) children aged 3–5 years from a random sample of preschools in Kanpur district, India. Dental caries experience was recorded using WHO criteria. A pretested questionnaire with 9 questions was used for collecting information regarding mothers’ practices regarding feeding and oral hygiene practices. Chi-square test (χ2) and Student’s t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results. The prevalence of ECC was 48% with mean dmft of 2.03 ± 2.99. Boys (57%) were affected more than girls (43%) which was found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). Caries prevalence was high and statistically significant (P<0.05) among those who were breast fed for longer duration, during nighttime, those falling asleep with bottle, and those fed with additional sugar in milk. Conclusion. Determining the role of feeding practices on early childhood caries can help in the development of appropriate oral health promotion strategies.

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