Potential Impact of Dietary Habits, Body Mass Index and Family Function on Early Child Hood Caries Among12to36 Month-Old Childrenin A Rural Area Of Egypt

Aim: Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is widespread disease throughout the world. Changing diets and habits are also contributing to the disease’s fast spread in low- and middle-income nations. In many nations, ECC is commonly not treated, which causes discomfort, pain and a negative effect on general health, growth and development, and the quality of life for kids, their families, and even communities. ECC is also a financial, social, and medical burden on world public health. The aim of this study was to identify early childhood caries (ECC) incidence and risk factors among toddlers in Upper Egypt. Subjects & methods: A total of 139 mother-child pairs (60 male, 79 female) were hired at the governorates of Qena and Luxor. In accordance with WHO recommendations, data on ECC and maternal caries were collected. An interview questionnaire was used to evaluate mothers’ socioeconomic level, literacy, and parenting styles. Results: the association between the ECC prevalence and sociodemographic variables shows that there is a significant relationship between ECC and age (p<0.01). Also, there is a significant relationship between ECC and BMI (p<0.05) whereas there is no significant association between ECC and gender i.e. ECC and gender do not appear to be significantly correlated, though. Conclusion: Given the relatively high prevalence of ECC in Upper Egypt, it is critical to review public dental health policies and develop effective strategies to encourage changes in children’s oral health behavior in order to prevent the disease’s spread and worsening. Meaning that preventing the spread and aggravation of the disease depends on public awareness and the development of effective strategies to monitor the oral health of children and their families.