Evaluation And Corelation Of Feeding Practices Of Mothers Residing In Rural Population Of Vidarbha Region Towards Presence Of Early Childhood Caries In Their Children

Background: Prolonged exposure of teeth to breastfeeding , bottle feeding and feeding at night have been identified as risk factors of early childhood caries (ECC). Method: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted on a group of 150 children with the age group of 1-3 years , purpose of the study was explained with a written consent and before starting intraoral examination of the child mothers were interviewed based on a self-designed questionnaire (translated in local language: Marathi) regarding socio-demographic factors, feeding habits of child, oral hygiene practices of child.Intraoral examination was carried out using mouth mirror and WHO probe for assessing “deft” index. For this WHO oral health assessment form 1997 was used. Results: Bottle-fed children, 75% had dmft score >5 while 25% had dmft between 0-5. 88 children who were both breast and bottle-fed, 68% had dmft score >5 while 32% had dmft between 0-5. 0.62% of the children who were breast fed for more than 6 months had dmft score >5 and 38% had score between 0-5.out of 48% who were breast-fed for less than 6 months, 2% had score in between 0-5 and 77% had score >5. Conclusion: Risk of ECC can be reduced by limiting the infat feeding for less than 12 months