Feeding Practices and Early Childhood Caries in Preschool Children of Educated and Uneducated Mothers

Abstract

Background: It is assumed that the knowledge of mothers would influence their child’s oral health status. Early childhood caries (ECC) in infants and young children has been attributed to improper feeding practices. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between feeding practices and ECC in preschool children. Design: A total of 400 children between the ages of 1 and 5 years were randomly selected from Nalgonda district. A well-structured questionnaire related to the education status of the mother and the feeding practices given to the child was prepared. The data were recorded, tabulated, and then statistically analyzed from the answered questionnaire. Results: Children of uneducated parents group were found to be at mild to high caries risk and children of educated parents group were found to be at mild risk. In the present study, nocturnal feeding, increased frequency of consumption of milk, in-between meals snacking, and poor oral hygiene were the main causes of ECC. Conclusion: Parents should be aware of various risk factors for the occurrence of dental caries for the proper maintenance of their child’s oral health.