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The first 1,000 days of life and early childhood caries: closing the global data gap

Moréniké Oluwátóyìn Foláyan1,2,3,4, Balgis Gaffar1,5, Carlos Alberto Feldens1,6

  • 1Early Childhood Caries Advocacy Group, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.

Frontiers in Oral Health
|December 5, 2025
PubMed

Insights

A significant data gap exists for Early Childhood Caries (ECC) in children under three. High prevalence rates in available data highlight the urgent need for global ECC surveillance and prevention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Global Health

Background:

  • The first 1,000 days of life are crucial for preventing Early Childhood Caries (ECC).
  • A substantial global data gap hinders understanding of ECC prevalence in children under 36 months.
  • ECC is a significant public oral health concern in infancy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the global availability of ECC data for children under 36 months.
  • To analyze age-specific prevalence trends of ECC.
  • To highlight the implications of missing ECC data and advocate for improved surveillance.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive analysis of a global dataset on ECC prevalence (2007-2017) across 193 UN member states.
  • Data organized and analyzed by World Health Organization Region.
  • Examination of data gaps and prevalence rates for children under 36 months.

Main Results:

  • A profound data gap was identified: 73.6% of countries lacked data for children under 36 months; only 19.7% had current data.
  • Where data existed, ECC prevalence approached or exceeded 50% in some nations, indicating early onset.
  • Significant regional disparities in ECC burden were observed, with high rates in European, Eastern Mediterranean, and Western Pacific regions.

Conclusions:

  • The scarcity of ECC data for infants, coupled with high prevalence rates where data exists, signifies a critical global public oral health issue.
  • Closing the global data gap is essential for mobilizing resources and implementing effective, targeted ECC prevention strategies.
  • Urgent action is needed to improve ECC surveillance and implement interventions during the critical first 1,000 days of life.

Keywords:
early childhood cariesglobal healthhealth inequitieshealth policymaternal and child healthpregnancy

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