Early Childhood Caries

Knowledge and attitude among the parents of preschool children regarding oral health and Early Childhood Caries (ECC)
ABSTRACT:
Early childhood caries (ECC) is a major public health problem affecting infants and toddlers and is the most common chronic infectious childhood disease. It can occur in the children of all families which could be the result of ignorance or the fast hectic stressful life of parents due to which they are unable to give sufficient time to their children. Invariable of the cause, the sequelae associated with it are far more reaching. Furthermost adoption of consistent behavioural habits in childhood takes place at home, with the parents, especially the mothers, being the primary sculpts for behaviours. Aim & Objective:

When considering possible explanations, dietary habits and sweetened food intake frequently may be likely contributing factors. Mothers who consumed snacks in between meals or with meals had higher caries prevalence. A highly significant association between mother’s frequency of sugar consumption and caries in children was seen8. Similar findings were reported by King showing that children acquire their dietary and oral hygiene habits from parents. It also seems that children are being trained to accept a sweetened diet early in childhood by mothers transmitting their own, well established taste patterns to their children [8], [15],

Most of the parents agreed that rotten teeth could affect their child’s general health. In addition parents also believed that allowing an infant to nurse in bed all night was unsafe and agreed that bottle feeding beyond 1 year of age could be detriment to the primary dentition. If oral health promotion efforts are to be effective in improving the oral health of young children, it is essential that there should be a good understanding of parental knowledge and attitudes. Such findings may help to guide and modify current and future oral health prevention activities. Combined efforts, including early dental visits (i.e., by 1 year of age), timely risk assessment, appropriate therapeutic interventions and preventive counselling of parents (to provide anticipatory guidance), are essential in reducing the risk of ECC.

REFERENCES:
1. Filstrup SL, Briskie D, Fonseca M, Lawrence L, Wandera A, Inglehart MR. Early childhood caries and quality of life: child and parent perspectives. Pediatr Dent 2003;