The Role of Feeding Practices as a Determinant of the pufa Index in Children with Early Childhood Caries

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 464-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Gandeeban ◽  
M Ramakrishnan ◽  
HS Halawany ◽  
NB Abraham ◽  
V Jacob ◽  
...  

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and severity of untreated dental caries among young children (aged <6 years) with early childhood caries (ECC) using the pufa index and to examine the relationship between caries and feeding practices. Study Design: A cross-sectional study of children with ECC was undertaken in two stages: a questionnaire survey based on interviews and an intraoral examination using the defs and pufa indices. Results: The overall prevalence of untreated dental caries in our sample of 238 ECC-affected children was 72.3%. The abscess component (code a) was the most common condition. There was an increase in the ECC patterns and the severity of untreated dental caries with increasing age for all teeth groups. ECC and untreated caries lesions for the various teeth groups and study sites varied inversely with current feeding status. The majority of the children had posterior ECC, and the fewest were affected by ulceration (code u) as a consequence of untreated dental caries. Except for the posterior caries pattern, all other caries patterns and pufa components (code u alone, p<0.05) had a significantly higher prevalence among children with nocturnal feeding practices (p<0.001). Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that older age (p<0.05) and nocturnal feeding practices (p<0.001) were significantly associated with pufa scores>0. Conclusion: These data provide valuable evidence of the effect of nocturnal feeding as an important determinant of the increased prevalence of untreated caries lesions among children with ECC.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faheema Kimmie-Dhansay ◽  
Robert Barrie ◽  
Sudeshni Naidoo ◽  
Tina Sharon Roberts

BACKGROUND Young children are at the highest risk of developing dental caries as they at high risk for dental caries as they have a lack of autonomy over their diet and oral hygiene practices. Dental caries develops over time due to demineralization of tooth substance (enamel) resulting from acid production of bacterial metabolism from sugars. Early-onset of dental caries often results in asymptomatic presentation, but if left untreated, it can result in severe pain, infection and dentoalveolar abscesses. Early childhood caries (ECC) is defined as dental caries in children aged six years and younger and is a significant public health problem in South Africa. According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, untreated dental caries of primary teeth affects 532 million children. Untreated dental caries has many detrimental effects which can affect the physical development and reduce the quality of life of affected children. Furthermore, long term untreated dental caries can result in school absenteeism, low BMI and poor educational outcomes. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence and severity of ECC in South Africa in children under 6 years of age. METHODS All cross-sectional documenting the prevalence and severity of dental disease (decayed, missing and filled teeth scores) will be included. Various databases will be searched for eligible studies, and those included will be done by using prespecified inclusion criteria. Only studies conducted on South African children who are aged 6 years and under, will be included. There will be no restriction on the time nor language of publication. The quality of all eligible studies will be analyzed by a risk of bias tool developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The results will be presented narratively, and if possible, a meta-analysis will be conducted. RESULTS The protocol is registered with PROSPERO. The literature search was conducted in November 2018 and was repeated in November 2020. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study will be used to advise stakeholders of the prevalence and severity of dental disease in children less than 6 years of age in South Africa.


2021 ◽  
pp. 238008442110021
Author(s):  
O.O. Olatosi ◽  
A.A. Alade ◽  
T. Naicker ◽  
T. Busch ◽  
A. Oyapero ◽  
...  

Introduction: Malnutrition in children is one of the most prevalent global health challenges, and malnourished children have a higher risk of death from childhood diseases. Early childhood caries (ECC) is the most common chronic disease of childhood. Complications from ECC such as pain, loss of tooth/teeth, and infection can undermine a child’s nutrition and growth. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the severity of decay, missing, and filled tooth (dmft) by nutritional status using the z scores of the anthropometric measurements: height for age (HFA), weight for age (WFA), weight for height (WFH), and body mass index for age (BMIA) among children with ECC in Nigeria. Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in 5 local government areas (LGAs) in Lagos State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used. Results: A total of 273 cases of ECC were included in the analyses (mean age 4.19 ± 0.96 y). Overall, the mean dmft was 3.04 ± 2.28, and most (96%) were accounted for by untreated decay. The distribution of dmft within the different z score categories of BMIA (<–3 = severely wasted, –2 to –3 = wasted, –2 to +2 = normal, +2 to +3 = overweight and >+3 = obese) showed the highest dmft scores among the combined severely wasted and wasted groups, lowest among children with normal z scores, and intermediate in the overweight and obese groups. There was a significant negative correlation between BMIA z score, WFH z score, and dmft ( r = −0.181, P < 0.05 and r = −0.143, P < 0.05, respectively). However, the correlations between HFA z score, WFA z score, and dmft were positive but not significant ( r = 0.048, P = 0.44 and r = 0.022, P = 0.77, respectively). Conclusion: Our study showed an increased severity of dental caries among severely wasted or wasted children with ECC compared to those of normal or overweight. Knowledge Transfer Statement: The results from this study will raise awareness among clinicians and policy makers on the need for a primary prevention program for early childhood caries in countries with high burden of malnutrition and limited resources. Also, it will help draw the attention of clinicians to the caries status of malnourished children that can be managed to improve the nutritional outcomes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 252-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priya Subramaniam ◽  
Revathy Suresh

Objective: Dental caries is both an infectious and transmissible disease. Maternal transfer of Mutans Streptococci occurs at an early age and is important in the initiation of dental caries in children. The aim of this study was to identify certain strains of Streptococcus mutans in mother-child pairs, of children with early childhood caries. Study design: Sixty mother-child pairs of healthy children aged 18–36 months were selected. Mothers with high levels of Streptococcus mutans in their saliva and only children with ECC were included. Dental plaque samples were collected from mother-child pairs. The plaque samples were stored, transferred to the laboratory and analyzed for Streptococcus mutans strains c, f, e and k, present in mother-child pairs using Real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique. Data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis for level of similarity in Streptococcus mutans strains present in mother-child pairs. Results: A similar distribution of Streptococcus mutans strains c, f and k was identified in 28 mother-child pairs. Streptococcus mutans strain e was seen in 18 pairs. Conclusion: Less than 50% of mother-child pairs showed similarity in distribution of Streptococcus mutans strains.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Aswathi Sreedharan ◽  
Faizal CP ◽  
Chandru TP

<p><strong>Background:</strong> 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.</p><p><strong>Objective:</strong> The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence of ECC and parental knowledge regarding feeding practices in young children.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> 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 ECC</p><p><strong>Result:</strong> 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%</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> 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.</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 111 (4) ◽  
pp. 821-828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Devenish ◽  
Aqif Mukhtar ◽  
Andrea Begley ◽  
A John Spencer ◽  
W Murray Thomson ◽  
...  

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.


Author(s):  
Marvin So ◽  
Yianni A. Ellenikiotis ◽  
Hannah M. Husby ◽  
Cecilia Leonor Paz ◽  
Brittany Seymour ◽  
...  

Malnutrition and dental caries in early childhood remain persistent and intertwined global health challenges, particularly for indigenous and geographically-remote populations. To examine the prevalence and associations between early childhood dental caries, parent-reported mouth pain and malnutrition in the Amazonian region of Ecuador, we conducted a cross-sectional study of the oral health and nutrition status of 1,407 children from birth through age 6 in the &ldquo;Alli Kiru&rdquo; program (2011-2013). We used multivariate regression analysis to examine relationships between severe caries, parent-reported mouth pain measures, and nutritional status. The prevalence of dental caries was 65.4%, with 44.7% of children having deep or severe caries, and 33.8% reporting mouth pain. The number of decayed, missing and filled teeth dmft) increased dramatically with age. Malnutrition was prevalent, with 35.9% of children stunted, 1.1% wasted, 7.4% underweight, and 6.8% overweight. As mouth pain increased in frequency, odds for severe caries increased. For each unit increase in mouth pain frequency interfering with sleeping, children had increased odds for underweight (AOR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.02 &ndash; 1.54) and decreased odds for overweight (AOR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.58 &ndash; 0.97). This relationship was most pronounced among 3-6 year-olds. Early childhood caries, mouth pain and malnutrition were prevalent in this sample of young children. Parent-reported mouth pain was associated with severe caries, and mouth pain interfering with sleeping was predictive of poor nutritional status. We demonstrate the utility of a parsimonious parent-reported measure of mouth pain to predict young children&rsquo;s risk for severe early childhood caries and malnutrition, which has implications for community health interventions.


10.19082/4683 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 4683-4688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Mehdi Naghibi Sistani ◽  
Zohreh Hataminia ◽  
Mahmoud Hajiahmadi ◽  
Effat Khodadadi

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