In this study, associations were explored between maternal health and lifestyle during pregnancy and in early childhood and preschool children’s caries experience. The study is based on the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and on data from the Public Dental Services. A total of 1348 children were followed from pregnancy to age 5 yr. A clinical dental examination was performed at age 5 yr. Questionnaires were completed by the mothers during pregnancy and the first 18 months of life, and as part of the dental examination. Results from the multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that having an obese mother (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3–4.1), with a diet containing more fat (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1 – 2.5) or sugar (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1–2.3) than recommended, with low education (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1–2.3) or having one or both parents of non-western origin (OR 5.4, 95% CI 2.8–10.6) were statistically significant risk indicators for caries experience at age 5 yr. In conclusion, maternal weight and intake of sugar and fat in pregnancy were associated with caries experience in preschool children. These characteristics may enable early referral to the dental services and preventive care to be delivered.

Objective The purpose was to study associations between tooth brushing frequency, use of fluoride lozenges and consumption of sugary drinks at 1.5 year of age and having caries experience at 5 years of age. Methods This study was based on data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and by the Public Dental Services. A total of 1095 children were followed from pregnancy to the age of 5 years. Questionnaires regarding oral health behavior were completed by the parents at 1.5 and 5 years of age. Clinical and radiographic examination of the children was performed at the age of 5 years. Results In multiple logistic regression, having caries experience at 5 years of age was associated with; at 1.5 year of age having the teeth brushed less than twice daily (OR 2.1, CI 1.3–3.6) and being offered sugary drinks at least once a week (OR 1.8, CI 1.1–2.9) when controlled for family characteristics and oral health behavior at 5 years of age. Conclusions Tooth brushing frequency and consumption of sugary drinks in early childhood were related to caries development during preschool age independent of family characteristics and oral health behavior at 5 years of age. The results indicate that early established habits regarding tooth brushing and consumption of sugary drinks have long term effects on caries development. Parents encountering difficulties in establishing favorable oral health behavior in children’s first years of life should receive special attention from health personnel.

The proportion of Norwegian preschool children with dental caries experience has decreased during the last decades and the caries distribution has become skewed. Some children develop caries in early life, and caries may affect body weight, growth and quality of life in children. The social environment influences child development, including the risk for developing dental caries. The purpose of this paper was to summarize knowledge from the literature regarding parental influence on caries development in preschool children with focus on recent Norwegian research based on the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study. The results from the literature review showed that characteristics of the family and parental oral health behaviours and lifestyle may be associated with caries development in preschool children. These associations were recently confirmed in the Norwegian setting with low caries prevalence in children, high educational level in the population, and comprehensive dental service free of charge for children. In conclusion, the literature establishes associations between parental factors that are known during pregnancy and early parenthood and caries development in early childhood. These risk indicators may be used by health care personnel to identify risk children and target preventive care at children before dental caries has developed.

Objectives The purpose of the analyses was to study development, stability and changes in oral health behaviour; tooth brushing frequency, use of fluoride lozenges and fluoridated tooth paste in children from 1.5 to 5 years of age, and to study associations between oral health behaviour and family characteristics. Methods This study was based on data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and data from the Public Dental Services. A total of 771 children were followed from 1.5 to 5 years of age. Questionnaires regarding oral health behaviour in children were completed by the parents three times during preschool age. Results More than half of the children (52%) had their teeth brushed twice daily at 1.5 years of age, increasing to 61% at 3 years and 76% at 5 years of age. At 1.5 years of age 37% of the children used fluoride lozenges daily, increasing to 74% at 3 years and 75% at 5 years of age. The majority of the children who had started brushing twice daily and used fluoride lozenges daily at 1.5 year of age continued these behaviours until the age of 5 years. At 1.5 years of age, children who brushed twice daily were more likely to use fluoride lozenges daily than children who brushed less frequently (p = 0.03). Multiple logistic regression showed that the probability of a child having its teeth brushed twice daily continuously during preschool age was higher when both parents were of western origin (OR 4.0, CI 1.3 – 11.9) than when one or both parents were of non-western origin. Children with one older sibling brushed more frequently (OR 1.4, CI 1.0 – 1.9) and used fluoride lozenges more often (OR 1.6, CI 1.1 – 2.2) during preschool age than children without older siblings. Conclusions Oral health behaviour established in early life was stable during preschool age. The results indicate that tooth brushing frequency and use of fluoride lozenges were not in accordance with the present recommendations based on the scientific literature. The teeth of Norwegian pre-schoolers were brushed less frequently than recommended, and more children than recommended were using fluoride lozenges.

Objective: To explore caries development in children from 5 to 12 years of age, and to study whether enamel caries and dentine caries at 5 years of age could predict caries prevalence at 12 years of age, controlled for child characteristics. Methods: The study included 3282 children examined at 5 and 12 years of age. Data were collected by clinical examination and questionnaire. Enamel and dentine caries were registered at surface level. Data were tested by t-test and analysed by bi-and multivariate logistic regression. The study was ethically approved. Results: In 5-year-olds, 15% of the children had dentine caries experience and 21% had enamel caries. In 12-year-olds, 32% had dentine caries experience and 47% had enamel caries. Children with dentine caries experience at 5 years of age had at 12 years of age developed more surfaces with enamel caries (mean 2.8, SD 4.2) and dentine caries experience (mean 1.8, SD 2.5) than other children (p < .05). Dentine caries experience at 12 years of age was associated with having only enamel caries (OR 1.6, CI 1.2-2.0) and dentine caries experience (OR 3.2, CI 2.6-3.9) at 5 years of age. Family status and parental education were related to caries development. Conclusion: Children with caries in primary teeth continued to be caries risk children during the mixed dentition period. In addition to dentine caries experience, enamel caries in primary teeth was a predictor for caries development in young permanent teeth and may be used to improve the caries risk assessment.