Association between sleep patterns and early childhood caries in 3–4-year-old children: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the sleep practices of children and their association with early childhood caries (ECC) at three different age periods. Methodology: A cross‑sectional study was conducted to assess the sleep practices, feeding practices, and oral hygiene practices of children during nighttime from 0 to 2 years of age. A survey among 550 mothers of children aged 3–4 years with ECC (n = 275) and without ECC (n = 275) was conducted using a pretested and validated questionnaire. The three practices (sleep practices, feeding practices, and oral hygiene practices) of children at 0–3 months, 4–11 months, and 1–2 years of age were recorded and analyzed. Results: Risk factors associated with ECC at 0–3 months of age were gender (odds ratio [OR]: 0.59, 0.36–0.98), no previous dental visit (OR: 2.30, 1.15–4.59), bedtime (OR: 3.54, 2.01–6.25), and intentional feeding practice at night (OR: 1.83, 1.0–3.35). At 4–11 months of age, no previous dental visit (OR: 3.28, 1.66–6.49), mother’s education (OR: 0.42, 0.23–0.76), frequent night wakes (OR: 5.98, 1.89–19.21), and intentional feeding practice at night (OR: 111.09, 32.25–382.68) and, at 1–2 years of age, no previous dental visit (OR: 2.37, 1.45–3.88), intentional feeding practice at night (OR: 19.12, 9.09–40.21), and breastfeeding for more than 2 years (OR: 14.56, 7.17–29.56) were associated with ECC. Conclusion: Lack of previous dental visit and intentional feeding at night were the common risk factors associated with ECC in children.