Associations Between Taste Preferences and Feeding Practices on Early Childhood Caries.

Purpose: To investigate associations between parent-reported children's taste prefer- ences, children's feeding practices and early childhood caries (ECC).

Methods: A convenience sample of children younger than 72 months was recruited from several clinics and a health center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, between April 2019 and July 2022. The parents of participants were guided through a ques- tionnaire assessing their children's taste preferences and feeding practices. Data were stored in REDCap and analyzed using NCSS 2022 and 2023 software. Statistical sig- nificance was defined by a P -value ≤0.05.

Results: Overall, 467 children with a mean age of 45.7±15.4 months were recruited, of which 49 percent were female and 60 percent had ECC. Children with ECC had a higher mean taste preferences score, indicating greater preferences toward sugary foodstuffs (caries-free [CF]=0.63±1.07, ECC=0.96±1.02; P <0.001), with a great pro- portion showing preferences toward candies, ice cream and sugary drinks. Children with ECC also displayed a higher mean snacking frequency (CF=2.57±1.20, ECC= 3.13±1.22; P <0.001) and a great percentage (CF=36 percent, ECC=56.8 percent; P <0.001) frequently snacked before going to bed. A great proportion of parents of children with ECC also reported adding sweeteners to their children's drinks.

Conclusions: Overall preferences toward sugary foods and individual preferences to- ward candies, ice cream and sugary drinks are associated with the presence of caries, as are unhealthy feeding patterns. Preferences toward a cariogenic diet may be a risk factor for developing ECC.