Prevention Of Early Childhood Caries Research Articles

PRE- AND POST-NATAL METHODS FOR PREVENTING EARLY CHILDHOOD CARIES

In general, the world recognizes the lack of preventive measures against dental caries in children, as evidenced by itsprevalence and intensity with a signifi cant range of fl uctuations.The aim of the study. To describe modern approaches to the prevention of early childhood dental caries in children basedon the analysis of foreign and domestic literature.Materials and methods. The study used the bibliosemantic method and structural and logical analysis. The electronicdatabases PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and EMBASE were used to search modern scientifi c literature using the key words «early childhood caries», «macro and trace elements», «probiotics», «prenatal prevention», «postnatal prevention», «oral cavity microfl ora».Results and discussion. At this stage of caries development, the most eff ective prevention programs are those developedon the basis of methods to minimize the impact of risk factors for the development of the disease, such as microbial plaque,low resistance of dental tissues to demineralization, frequent consumption of carbohydrates. The practical implementation of comprehensive prevention programs is very diffi cult, as it should be carried out before the birth of a child and continue throughout life. Often the role of the dentist is to organize and monitor the program, while specifi c preventive measures can and should be implemented by health and education authorities, medical personnel, parents and educators. The greatest impact will be achieved through collaboration among specialists in various medical and non-medical fi elds.Conclusions. Based on the analysis of the literature, there is a great interest of the world’s leading scientists in the prevention of early childhood caries. However, the problems of developing adapted preventive measures taking into account etiologic factors remain relevant.

The multifaceted role of fluoride in preventing early childhood caries: A comprehensive review

Early childhood caries (ECC) remains a prevalent and significant public health concern worldwide, particularly in underserved communities. Fluoride has long been recognized as a cornerstone in ECC prevention due to its multifaceted mechanisms of action, including topical effects on enamel, systemic effects on dental development, antimicrobial properties, and the ability to promote remineralization of early carious lesions. This comprehensive review explores the various roles of fluoride in preventing ECC, encompassing its sources, efficacy, safety considerations, delivery strategies, challenges, and future directions. Community water fluoridation, fluoride toothpaste, mouth rinses, professional treatments, and dietary sources constitute primary means of fluoride exposure. Extensive clinical trials, epidemiological studies, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews provide robust evidence supporting the effectiveness of fluoride in reducing ECC prevalence and severity. However, optimizing fluoride exposure levels while minimizing the risk of dental fluorosis remains a critical consideration, especially in vulnerable populations. Strategies for fluoride delivery in high-risk groups, such as early childhood interventions, school-based programs, and community outreach initiatives, play pivotal roles in promoting oral health equity. Nevertheless, challenges persist, including limited access to fluoride in underserved areas, public misconceptions, and the need for further research on novel fluoride formulations. Fluoride continues to be a vital tool in ECC prevention, with implications for both clinical practice and public health policy. Addressing disparities in fluoride access and enhancing community engagement are essential for maximizing its impact in reducing ECC burden globally. Future research endeavors should focus on innovative approaches to fluoride delivery and long-term oral health outcomes in diverse populations.

Evaluation of an early childhood caries preventive programme starting during pregnancy-Results after 3 and 6 years.

Early childhood caries (ECC) has been found to be up to five times more common among children living in areas of low socio-economic status (SES) than among children in areas of higher SES. To evaluate an ECC prevention programme from pregnancy to 3 and 6 years of age. A prospective, controlled, intervention cohort study was initiated in 2013 in a low-SES area in Sweden. The intervention group received an individual interdisciplinary ECC prevention programme starting pre-birth, consisting of supportive oral health-promoting talks using motivational interviewing techniques and individual ECC preventive actions. A control group, consisting of pregnant women living in a comparable area, received ordinary routines. Of the 336 pregnant women, 64 mothers (with 64 children) completed the programme, and 394 children were born in the control group. At the sixth year examination, the proportion of children with no caries was similar between the groups (53% resp. 52%, p = .976), whereas the proportion with decayed, missed, filled primary teeth (dmft = 1-5) was slightly lower (23% resp. 36%, p = .063), and the proportion with severe caries disease (dmft > 5) was higher (p = .013) in the intervention group (25%) than in the control group (12%). No preventive effect regarding caries can be demonstrated at sixth year of age. Maternal behavioural change in dental care was not sufficient to even out inequalities in oral health in children, eventually due to difficulties in reaching the target group and the lack of effects among the families reached.

Evaluation of possible associated factors for early childhood caries: are preterm birth and birth weight related?

BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the oral and dental health of preschool children aged 12–71 months living in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, and to examine the effects of low birth weight (LBW) and preterm, early term and term birth on dental caries.Methods475 participants were included in the study. Intraoral examinations were performed and evaluated for the presence of early childhood caries (ECC). These values ​​are; Relationships such as age, gender, birth weight, week of birth, tooth brushing frequency, cariogenic nutrition, and parental education levels were examined. The obtained data were analyzed statistically (chi-square, t-test, artificial neural network (ANN)).ResultsOf the 475 participants, whose parents agreed to fill out the questionnaire, 250 were female and 225 were male. While the mean age was 49.78 ± 14.78 months for those with ECC, it was 38.93 ± 17.96 months for those without. Higher duration of breastfeeding (p = 0.04), education level of parents (p = 0.001), lower socioeconomic level (p = 0.001), and lower brushing frequency (p = 0.001) were also found to be significantly associated with ECC. ECC was seen in 90% of 77 children with a history of preterm birth. In LBW, this rate was 83%. According to the ANN result, in preterm birth; 12.9% affected ECC by LBW.ConclusionAccording to the results of our study, both LBW and preterm delivery were found to be associated with ECC and S-ECC (severe early childhood caries). An additional study on parents of preterm/LBW infants would be beneficial. In the early period, regular dental examination, implementation of preventive and preventive treatments, and nutrition education to parents can make a significant difference in the prevention of ECC.

Risk of Early Childhood Caries Estimated by Maternal Dental Caries during Pregnancy: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Public policy promoting prenatal dental care to provide long-term prevention of early childhood caries (ECC) in offspring would require evidence regarding the ECC risk associated with maternal dental caries during pregnancy. This study evaluated that association using a design capable of assessing temporal relationships and considered a directed acyclic graph to guide the adjustment of pertinent confounders. This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 158 mother-child dyads attending care at Prachathipat Hospital, Pathum Thani, Thailand. Maternal dental caries data at their first visits to prenatal oral care from February 2012 to May 2017 were traced forwardly to match the oral health data of offspring who visited the hospital from May 2013 to March 2018. Univariable and multivariable fractional logit regression models along with the calculation of average marginal effects revealed that children born to two categories of mothers with 1 to 5 and ≥6 carious teeth during pregnancy would averagely develop 4.5 to 5 and 7.9 to 8.8 more carious teeth per 100 teeth than dental caries would occur in offspring of caries-free mothers. This evidence identified the role of maternal dental caries during pregnancy as a significant clinical risk indicator for ECC and supported the provision of prenatal dental care for mothers to prevent ECC in offspring.

The Association Between Vitamin D and Early Childhood Caries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Previous surveys have reported that children with vitamin D deficiency were likely to suffer from early childhood caries (ECC). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine 1. whether the status of vitamin D is intrinsically related to the occurrence of ECC and 2. the optimal level of vitamin D for the prevention of ECC. The database of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase and Google scholar were searched for targeted literature. The eligibility criteria were observational studies in which children with ECC were compared to children without ECC in terms of their vitamin D status. Applying the Newcastle-Ottawa tool, study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were performed by 2 reviewers independently. Meta-analysis was performed using the Cochrane Collaboration's Review Manager 5.4 software. 501 articles were retrieved from the electronic databases; 11 studies were finally included in systematic review, 10 studies of which were submitted to meta-analysis. The 25(OH)D levels in the ECC group were statistically significantly lower compared with that in the caries-free group (WMD = -13.96, 95% CI: [-19.88,-8.03], p < 0.001), especially in regard to the association between S-ECC and vitamin D (WMD = -18.64, 95% CI: [-20.06,-17.22], p < 0.001). The subgroup analyses in terms of geographical region demonstrated that children with a level of 25(OH)D of 50-75 nmol/l were more likely to have ECC than those with over 75 nmol/l (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: [1.26,1.60], p < 0.001), with data from Asia and Europe combined for analysis Conclusions: The level of vitamin D was lower in children with ECC than in caries-free children, and the correlation between S-ECC and vitamin D was even stronger. The optimal 25(OH)D level for preventing occurrence and development of ECC was ≥ 75 nmol/l. Thus, clinicians should view the development of early caries also from a systemic perspective.

Canadian dentists' awareness and views on early childhood caries and its prevention and management.

The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) recommends children visit a dentist within 6 months of the eruption of their first tooth or by 12 months of age. The aim of this study was to investigate Canadian dentists' awareness and views on early childhood caries (ECC) and its prevention and management. This study analyzed a subset of questions relating to dentists' knowledge of ECC and prevention strategies, from a national survey of general and pediatric dentists, commissioned by the CDA in 2013. Analyses included descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses. A p-value of ≤0.05 was considered significant. Three thousand two hundred thirty-two out of 14,747 dentists responded (response rate of 21.9%), with 95.1% having heard of ECC. Overall, 60.9% of respondents reported that they were comfortable providing treatment to children with ECC. Significant differences were found between the number of years in practice and whether dentists were or were not comfortable providing prevention (19.5 ± 12.6 years vs. 25.4 ± 12.1 years; p < 0.001) or treatment for patients with ECC (19.1 ± 12.7 years vs. 22.5 ± 12.3 years; p < 0.001). Pediatric dentists (OR = 6.92; 95% CI: 2.57, 18.61), female dentists (OR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.24), dentists practicing in smaller urban areas (OR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.28), and dentists who were aware of the CDA's position on ECC (OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.13, 1.41) were more likely to be comfortable providing treatment for children with ECC. While the majority of Canadian dentists have sufficient knowledge of ECC, not all are comfortable providing oral health care services to children at a young age. It is encouraging however, that most dentists are wanting additional oral health resources designed for education on ECC prevention for parents of young children.

Polish pregnant women's knowledge on early childhood caries prevention and oral hygiene in children.

Early childhood caries (ECC) is one of the most common chronic diseases among children. In Poland 86.9% of six-year-olds have ECC. One of the factors determining adherence to ECC prophylaxis and oral hygiene is mothers' knowledge. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge demonstrated by pregnant women about ECC prevention and oral hygiene, and to analyse the determinants of this knowledge. A quantitative survey was conducted using Computer Assisted Telephone Interview technique on a randomly selected representative sample of 1,000 women over the age of 18 in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The significance level was established at 0.05 and p-values were presented as: p < 0.05, p < 0.01 and p < 0.001. The highest percentage of wrong or "I don't know" answers were related to questions about: the number of free dental check-ups for children (76.8%), the date of the child's first visit to the dentist (66.5%), the age when the child has mixed dentition (72.2%). Women with higher education had better knowledge than women with lower or secondary education. Women with good and very good financial situation showed a higher level of knowledge compared to women with average, bad and very bad financial situation. When developing prevention strategies and educational programs as part of prenatal care for women to reduce the incidence of ECC, it is important to take into account the identified areas that need support and specific target groups (mothers with lower socioeconomic status).

Knowledge, Attitude and Barriers to Dental Treatment of Mothers Regarding Early Childhood Caries: A Cross-sectional Survey from Taif Province, Saudi Arabia

Introduction: “Early Childhood Caries (ECC), also called ‘baby bottle tooth decay’ or ‘early childhood tooth decay,’ significantly affects infants and children aged six or younger, causing cavities and with lasting impacts on oral health and overall well-being. Its global prevalence concerns healthcare professionals and policymakers due to its multifactorial nature, influenced by diet, oral hygiene, socio-economic factors, and maternal awareness. Mothers, as primary caregivers during early childhood, play a crucial role in ECC prevention and early intervention. Aim: This study examines mothers’ knowledge and attitude regarding ECC and risk factors associated with children’s dental health, to determine difficulties in dental therapy in Taif, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: Using a cross-sectional survey design in the province of Taif, Saudi Arabia, a random sample of 288 mothers of healthy children aged three to seven years were surveyed. A structured questionnaire containing 26 close ended questions was used to gather information regarding the socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge and attitude of the mothers regarding ECC, as well as barriers to dental care. The questionnaire was originally drafted in English and then translated into Arabic by a professional translator. Using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, an analysis and a representation of data was performed. Results: More than half of the mothers 57.63% (n=166) understood the relation between poor dental health and hygiene and a child’s ability to learn, and 20.13% (n=58) didn’t know if poor dental health can impair a child’s ability to learn (p=0.02). The notion that a visit to the dentist should begin within six months of the appearance of milk teeth was agreed with by 55.55% (n=160) of the mothers, while 28.81% (n=83) of them didn’t know the proper time for a child’s first visit to the dentist (p=0.03). Only 22.22% of the mothers didn’t know what the nearest dental center to them was. Conclusion: The present study revealed that mothers did have awareness of different aspects of oral health and dental caries, several mothers exhibited unfavorable attitudes toward oral health practices, which could set a negative example for their children.

Maternal Oral Health Education for Predicting Early Childhood Caries among Preschool Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introduction: Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a pressing public health issue in preschool-aged children. Preventive guidelines have not significantly reduced ECC incidence. Maternal education programmes have been proposed as interventions, but systematic reviews on their effectiveness are scarce. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of oral health education programmes for mothers in preventing ECC. Materials and Methods: Eight eligible Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) were identified through searches in the Cochrane Oral Health Group’s Trial Register, PubMed, and Google Scholar, as well as manual review of references from Englishonly studies. The interventions targeted mothers starting from 12 weeks of pregnancy onwards, with the exclusion of treatment-based methods, pharmacological interventions, and post-pregnancy programmes. The primary outcome assessed was ECC incidence, analysed following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Participants exclusively received oral health educational programmes designed to prevent ECC in their children, highlighting the importance of early preventive measures during pregnancy. Results: Global studies varied in interventions and outcomes. A study from Brazil showed no reduction in ECC, while a study from Uganda reported reduced dental caries. Another study from Australia demonstrated a significant reduction in severe ECC. Risk of bias analysis revealed that five studies had a low risk of bias while one study had an unclear risk of bias. Moderate risk of bias was found in one study. Conclusion: Evidence suggests a positive impact of maternal education on ECC prevention, supporting tailored programmes for mothers with lower education. The overall recommendation strength is modest due to intervention variations and limited trials. Tailored educational programmes for mothers, especially those with lower education levels, should be integrated into maternal and child health services to effectively address social determinants of oral health.

Knowledge and Attitude of ASHA workers in prevention of Early Childhood caries: A cross sectional study

Introduction: Accredited social health activists (ASHAs) are government instituted community health workers as part of the National Rural Health Mission. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of ASHAs regarding Early Childhood caries. Methods: A cross sectional survey was carried out among 190 ASHA workers. A self-constructed, 15 items, close-ended questionnaire based on the dental knowledge and the attitude of dental health was translated into regional language using a standardized translation process. The Questionnaire was distributed at the monthly review meeting held at Primary Health centres and their response was taken. The data was analysed and compared on basis on their educational level. The data were analysed by SPSS Version 24. Results: The content validity index of the questionnaire was 0.75 and the face validity was 3.2. The internal consistency was assessed with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and was found to be 0.876. Test–retest reliability is 0.8. The correct responses on knowledge of participants is 55.76% and for the attitude towards child oral health is 74.76%. Study also showed ASHA workers have poor knowledge about first dental visit and oral hygiene maintenance in children (p &lt; 0.05). No statistical difference in knowledge and attitude of ASHA based on their educational level was noticed Conclusion: The ASHA workers have only satisfactory knowledge about ECC but their attitude toward the Child Oral Health is good. Therefore training and motivation can help in educating them for preventive community programmes for ECC.

Early childhood caries: parents’ knowledge, attitude and practice towards its prevention in refugee camps in Erbil, Iraq

BackgroundEarly childhood caries is a significant oral health issue in socially deprived communities, including refugees, where prevention plays a crucial role in minimizing the challenges and costs associated with treating early childhood caries. To improve oral health outcomes, it is important to understand parents’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices. This study aims to assess the oral health knowledge, practices, and attitudes of refugee parents.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 503 parents/caregivers residing in Erbil’s refugee camps in Iraq, with healthy preschool children aged one to six years. Structured questionnaire was utilized in conducting individual interviews with parents to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The questionnaire collected demographic information and data on access to oral health services.ResultsA total of 503 out of 505 households actively participated in the study, resulting in a high response rate of 99.6%. Demographic analysis revealed that the majority of respondents were female parents, constituting 92.05% of the sample. Within the participant pool, the primary age groups were 26–35 years (55.3%) and 18–25 years (26.2%). Educational background analysis revealed that a significant proportion of parents had attained a secondary school education (29.6%) or primary school education (27.4%). Statistical analysis further established a noteworthy association between educational background and knowledge level. The investigation of participants’ knowledge uncovered notable gaps and misconceptions pertaining to early childhood caries, with an overall mean score of 5.1. Assessing the overall attitude of parents, a mean score of 3.87 (SD = 1.29) suggested a generally unfavorable attitude towards oral hygiene practices and prevention of early childhood caries. In terms of actual practices, parents demonstrated a mean practice score of 5.7.ConclusionsThis study emphasizes knowledge gaps and misconceptions among parents in refugee camps regarding early childhood caries in preschool children. Findings revealed low knowledge scores, limited understanding of hidden sugars, delayed oral hygiene practices, and limited knowledge about fluoride.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Towards ECC Prevention in Thai Medical Personnel

This study aimed to identify the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the prevention of early childhood caries (ECC) amongst medical personnel in well-baby clinics (WBC). Participants were 152 health care professionals, including public health officers, nurses, and physicians, working in WBC in Chonburi Province, Thailand. Participants completed a 6-part online questionnaire asking about demographic data, knowledge and attitudes related to ECC, ECC prevention practices, collaboration, referral systems, and suggestions for improving collaboration between dental and medical personnel in WBC. Whilst most participants had high levels of knowledge about oral care instructions, tooth brushing frequency, and cariogenic foods and beverages, they knew less about recommendations for timing of the first dental visit, fluoride concentration in toothpaste, and the time for exfoliation of primary teeth. There were significant differences in the proportions of correct answers to questions related to the first dental visit and bottle feeding and in total knowledge scores between physicians and other health care professionals. Most participants demonstrated a positive attitude towards ECC prevention. More than 70% of participants always advise parents on oral hygiene and nutrition related to ECC prevention, but only 29% always refer patients to see dental personnel. Attitudes, collaboration, and referral systems were significantly associated with ECC prevention practices, but not knowledge. This study demonstrates that attitudes, collaboration, and referral systems are key contributors to ECC prevention amongst Thai medical personnel. In addition to training programmes, consistent interprofessional policy and referral systems should be formulated, especially in primary care settings.

An interdisciplinary intervention program to prevent early childhood caries in the Dominican Republic.

The principal aim of this randomized clinical trial (RCT) was to test the effectiveness in the prevention of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) through an educational intervention program with the use of a printed guide for pediatricians and parents both designed by pediatric dentists. After ethical approval, the first step was to design the educational guides, which were based on the information obtained from a focus group with pediatricians (n = 3), phone interviews with mothers to toddlers' (n = 7), and the best evidence available about children's oral health. For the RCT, 309 parents with their 10-12 months old children were randomly allocated to either the intervention or the control group. Parents in the intervention group received oral health education from the pediatricians supported by the printed guides. Parents in both groups received an oral health kit with a toothbrush and toothpaste at the first visit as well as at each 6-month follow-up visit. After 18 months the children were evaluated using ICDAS criteria. At baseline, data were available from 309 children (49.8% girls). The mean age of the children was of 10.8 months (SD = 0.8) and 69.3% had not had their teeth brushed with toothpaste. After 18 months, a total of 28 (22%) children in the intervention group and 44 (24%) in the control group were clinically examined. Regarding the number of tooth surfaces with caries lesions, the children in the intervention group had a mean of 6.50 (SD = 6.58) surfaces, while the children in the control group had a mean of 5.43 (SD = 4.74) surfaces with caries lesions. This difference was not significant (p = 0.460). The RCT showed no effectiveness in caries-progression control. Despite this result, this study managed to identify barriers that do not allow pediatricians from offering parents adequate oral health recommendations. With this learning, it is possible to work on collaborative programs with pediatricians that over time likely will increase dental health by controlling for ECC.

Effectiveness of Nano - Silver Fluoride Varnish in Prevention of Early Childhood Caries

Effectiveness of Nano - Silver Fluoride Varnish in Prevention of Early Childhood Caries

Five-year follow-up of an interdisciplinary oral health education program: Clinical practice behaviors in working pediatric nurse practitioners.

Many interdisciplinary oral health education programs have been implemented for pediatric primary care providers (e.g., pediatric nurse practitioner [PNP]) to raise awareness and gain skills related to the prevention of early childhood caries (ECC). However, no studies have evaluated if these educational programs provided to PNPs during their training resulted in clinical practice behavior changes. A 33-item survey was designed on a web-based platform (Survey Monkey) and distributed to 71 PNP graduates. The survey included demographics, current clinical practice, clinical practice behaviors, and perceived barriers to practice. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the survey items and thematic analyses on the open-ended questions. The survey response rate was 70% (50/71 PNPs). Most practicing PNPs were in acute care or specialty clinics (n = 33; 66%) where oral health was not part of the focused visit. Majority used knowledge learned in assessment and anticipatory guidance skills. However, only 14% of primary care providers were applying fluoride varnish with 10% billing for this procedure. Barriers to application were time, available supplies, COVID protocols, lack of support staff, or not billing due to minimal reimbursement. Many primary care-trained PNPs were practicing in acute or subspecialty areas where prevention of ECC is not viewed as part of their focused visit. Pediatric nurse practitioners working in primary care demonstrated some clinical practice changes. However, areas for improvement are time to perform a risk assessment and application of fluoride varnish, access to these supplies, and standard billing and insurance reimbursement for these preventable services.

Early Childhood Caries Intervention in Aboriginal Australian Children: A Cross-in Randomized Trial.

Early childhood caries (ECC) is the strongest predictor of dental caries in adulthood. Indigenous children have higher levels of ECC compared with non-Indigenous children. The study aimed to estimate the efficacy of an ECC intervention among Aboriginal Australian children. Baby Teeth Talk was an outcome assessor-blinded, closed-cohort cross-in randomized controlled trial conducted in South Australia, Australia. We randomly allocated 448 women pregnant with an Aboriginal child to either an immediate (II) or delayed (DI) intervention group between January 2011 and May 2012. The immediate intervention comprised (1) provision of dental care to mothers during pregnancy; (2) application of fluoride varnish to teeth of children at ages 6, 12; and 18 mo; (3) motivational interviewing delivered in conjunction; and (4) anticipatory guidance. Mothers/children in the DI group received the same intervention commencing when the child was 24 mo of age. The outcomes were assessed by the number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) in children aged 24, 36, and 60 mo. Regression-based approaches with generalized linear mixed effect (log-Poisson) model characterized the mean dmft to estimate risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). A total of 223 participants were randomly allocated to the II group and 225 to the DI group. Three hundred sixty-five children (178 II, 187 DI) received at least 1 dental clinical examination at 24, 36, and 60 mo of follow-up. The mean dmft was lower in the II group (0.48, 1.32, and 2.06) than in the DI group (0.82, 1.90, and 3.29) at each time point, respectively. The direct ECC intervention effect was to prevent/decrease dental decay experience (dmft) occurrence by 84% (RR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.20-2.48) after adjusting for all covariates. Our analysis indicated that the time-varied ECC intervention had immediate and longer-term effects on the prevention of ECC among Indigenous Australian children. The study aimed to estimate the efficacy of an early childhood caries (ECC) intervention among Aboriginal Australian children. The findings indicated that the culturally appropriate ECC intervention is effective for the preventive of ECC and can be used by clinicians, educators, and policy makers when planning an ECC intervention, so as to prevent and reduce ECC and meet identified oral health needs across the Australian population, which is important for preventive dental care.

Decoding early childhood caries: an in-depth analysis of YouTube videos for effective parental education.

To assess the coverage of information about early childhood caries (ECC) available on YouTube videos in three different languages, regarding technical characteristics of videos and interaction metrics. Search strategies were developed in English, Spanish, and Portuguese to make a comprehensive collection of videos from YouTube, encompassing 60 samples for each language, regarding all video types. The videos were assessed by a thematic checklist regarding 17 items on ECC. Videos were dichotomized according to the median of the thematic score and the nature of their authorship (health and non-health authors) to compare groups. The statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (version 25.0), applying Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and Mann-Whitney U test. P < 0.05 values were considered significant. Among 120 videos meeting inclusion criteria, ECC aetiology and prevention information proved incomplete, with a median score of 5 (Q1-Q3 = 3-7). No correlation emerged between this score and other video characteristics. However, interaction metrics like views, likes, dislikes, and viewing rates displayed significant correlations. Health authors primarily created these videos, yet non-health author channels had more subscribers. Surprisingly, videos focused on the impact of regular sugary food and beverage consumption on ECC progression received the most attention. Videos that presented information about the aetiology and prevention of ECC invariably focused on partial aspects of the disease. This highlights the need for better-quality educational videos and the importance of dental professionals in guiding patients toward reliable sources of information.

Effectiveness of Xylitol Oral Wipes in Prevention of Early Childhood Caries among High Caries Risk Toddlers - A Randomized Control Trial

Effectiveness of Xylitol Oral Wipes in Prevention of Early Childhood Caries among High Caries Risk Toddlers - A Randomized Control Trial

Fluoride prophylaxis - poison or simple way to get rid of early childhood caries (ECC) – review

Introduction: As a prevention, fluoride is used systemically as well as topically in the oral cavity. Thanks to fluoride prophylaxis, one of the most common bacterial disease in the world can be significantly reduced. This disease is dental caries. As such, it constitutes a huge problem in current stomatology, especially the type that affects small children - early childhood caries (ECC). Fluoride has beneficial effects not only in caries prevention but also in arresting and inhibiting the active decay process. Nevertheless, in recent years the use of fluoride is claimed to be controversial due to its toxic properties. Aim: The aim of this study is to summarize the current knowledge on the effect that fluoride has on caries diseases affecting children and the safety of its use based on the available research. Materials and methods: Review of the current literature based on data available in: Pubmed, Ncbi, NIH, AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) and EAPD (European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) websites using the following phrases: fluoride, fluoride in caries prevention, fluoride in caries, fluoride mechanism, fluoride toxicity, fluoride safety, caries, early childhood caries (ECC). Conclusions: The use of fluoride is debatable, due to its toxic properties when used in excessive doses. The analysis of the studies proved that fluoride concentrations used in dentistry for the prevention and treatment of early childhood caries (ECC) are safe for the children's organism. The benefits resulting from its use in modern dentistry, which should be based on prophylaxis, are indisputable.