Infant Dietary Pattern and its Association with Early Childhood Caries in Preschool Children: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the associations between feeding and oral hygiene practices during the first year of life and caries prevalence in preschool children. Materials and method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 420 children between the age group of 3–5 years in Navi Mumbai, India. Dental caries experience was recorded using WHO criteria. A validated questionnaire with 34 questions was used for collecting information regarding feeding and oral hygiene practices. The data collected were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis test, and Chi-square test. Results: Caries prevalence was high and statistically significant (p < 0.05) among those who were breastfed, fell asleep with a bottle in the mouth, fed with additional sugar in bottled milk, those who had a frequent sweet intake, and where infant’s teeth were not cleaned soon after eruption. Conclusion: Determining the role of feeding practices on early childhood caries and intervention during early childhood seems to be the most appropriate action to ensure healthy dental habits throughout life. Clinical significance: A future direction for dentists to target preventive interventions in early childhood and incorporate cariogenicity of frequent infant feeding into sound recommendations for parents and caregivers.