Influence of feeding habits on early childhood caries (ECC) within primary dentition in India

Objective To analyze the association between the feeding habits and prevalence of the early childhood caries among pre-school children of Udaipur city, Rajasthan. Study Design A cross-sectional study was conducted in school children between age group of 24–72 months. Demographic and attitudinal data were sought from parents of stratified randomly selected 586 children from this age group which was calculated according to a pilot study done two months prior to the study. Results Twenty-two point eight percent of the children examined were found to be affected with ECC. Forty-three point two percent and 65.3% of the children were breast fed and bed time fed respectively. Fifty-nine point one percent were weaned after 12 months of age. Conclusion It was observed that there was increase risk of developing ECC with bed time feeding and among those children weaned after 12 months of age.