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Caries and Its Association with Infant Feeding and Oral Health-related Behavior in 18-month and 3-year-old Japanese

Ayako Tashiro1, Takuro Yonezu1, Kaido Kumazawa2

  • 1Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Tokyo Dental College.

The Bulletin of Tokyo Dental College
|May 17, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Prolonged breastfeeding is a significant risk factor for early childhood caries in Japanese infants. Regular dental check-ups starting at 12 months can prevent dental caries at 18 months and 3 years.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Early childhood caries (ECC) poses a significant oral health challenge.
  • Understanding risk factors like infant feeding and oral hygiene is crucial for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of dental caries in Japanese children aged 18 months to 3 years.
  • To investigate the association between infant feeding practices, oral health behaviors, and ECC.
  • To identify protective factors against ECC development.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 387 Japanese infants, with examinations at 18 months and 3 years.
  • Multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify risk and protective factors.
  • Data collected on breastfeeding duration and dental visit history.

Main Results:

  • Continued breastfeeding was associated with a 7-fold increased likelihood of dental caries at 18 months.
  • Infants with a dental examination around 12 months had reduced caries risk at 18 months.
  • Lack of a 12-month dental check-up significantly increased caries incidence by age 3.

Conclusions:

  • Prolonged breastfeeding is a risk factor for ECC at 18 months.
  • Early and regular oral care, including dental visits from 12 months, is effective in preventing ECC at 18 months and 3 years.

Keywords:
Early childhood cariesInfant feedingJapanese childrenOral health behaviorRisk factor

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