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Temperament and Its Association With Oral Health-Related Behaviors and Early Childhood Caries in Young Children
Chanita Tunyasonti1, Pat Rojmahamongkol2, Apiwan Smutkeeree1
1Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Insights
Child temperament influences behaviors linked to early childhood caries (ECC). However, parental factors like diet and hygiene are key in preventing ECC, mitigating temperamental risks.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Child Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Early childhood caries (ECC) poses a significant oral health challenge.
- Child temperamental traits may predict susceptibility to ECC.
- Targeted interventions require understanding these predictive factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between child temperament, oral health behaviors, and ECC.
- To identify specific temperamental traits associated with ECC risk in toddlers.
- To explore the role of oral health behaviors in this association.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 405 child-caregiver pairs.
- Data collected via oral examinations and parent questionnaires (diet, hygiene, sociodemographics).
- Temperament assessed using the Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire-Very Short Form; ECC using WHO dmft index.
Main Results:
- Higher effortful control linked to reduced night feeding and better brushing cooperation.
- Higher surgency associated with increased consumption of sweetened snacks/drinks.
- ECC primarily influenced by parental factors (plaque control, diet, education), not directly by temperament.
Conclusions:
- Temperament influences behaviors that can increase ECC risk.
- Parental supervision and care are crucial for mitigating temperamental impacts on oral health.
- Effective plaque control, diet management, and education reduce caries susceptibility.
Background:
Early childhood temperamental traits may offer insights into identifying children's susceptibility to early childhood caries (ECC) for targeted preventive interventions.
Aim:
To investigate the association between child temperament, oral health-related behaviors, and ECC in 2- to 3-year-old children.
Design:
This cross-sectional study of 405 child-caregiver pairs collected data through oral examinations and parent-completed questionnaires that assessed sociodemographic factors, diet, and oral hygiene practices. Child temperament was assessed using the Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire-Very Short Form, evaluating surgency/extraversion, negative affectivity, and effortful control. Carious status was assessed using the WHO dmft index. Associations were analyzed using bivariate and multiple logistic regression.
Results:
Higher effortful control scores were associated with weaning from night feeding (OR = 1.37, 95% CI [1.04, 1.78]) and cooperative brushing (OR = 1.51, 95% CI [1.07, 2.13]). Higher surgency scores were linked to frequent sweetened snacks/drinks consumption (OR = 1.30, 95% CI [1.02, 1.67]). However, ECC was not directly linked to temperament but was primarily influenced by parental factors, with effective plaque control, restricted cariogenic diet, and higher parental education being associated with reduced caries susceptibility.
Conclusions:
While temperamental traits are associated with behaviors that increase ECC susceptibility, their impact on oral health can be effectively mitigated through appropriate parental care and supervision.
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