Severe early childhood caries (S-ECC), defined as any sign of smooth-surface caries in a child younger than three years of age, remains a serious health issue. The aim of this study was to indicate oral health behaviours related to S-ECC. The study surveyed parents (socio-economic and medical factors, oral health behaviours) and clinically examined children including non-cavitated d1,2/cavitated d ≥ 3 lesions. %S-ECC, and caries indices (d1,2 d ≥ 3 mft and d1,2 d ≥ 3 mfs) were calculated. Spearman’s correlation and simple and multiple logistic regression were used to assess the relationships between various factors and S-ECC. A total of 496 children were examined. S-ECC occurred in 44.8%: d1,2 d ≥ 3 mft = 2.62 ± 3.88, d1,2 d ≥ 3 mfs = 4.46 ± 8.42. S-ECC was correlated with socio-economic factors, vitamin D supplementation, breastfeeding and using formula after the 18th month, and toothbrushing. Supplementation of vitamin D and toothbrushing tended to decrease the odds of S-ECC (OR = 0.49 (0.27–0.87); p = 0.016, OR = 0.46 (0.24–0.86) p = 0.015, respectively). Feeding exclusively with formula was observed to increase the odds of S-ECC (OR = 2.20 (1.29–3.76); p = 0.004). Consuming > three snacks daily (OR = 1.39 (0.97–1.98); p = 0.072) and the reluctance to eat resilient foods (OR = 1.63 (1.05–2.51); p = 0.028) were nullified by the confounding factors. Vitamin D supplementation, mastication of resilient food, breastfeeding in the first six months of a baby’s life, and parent-supervised toothbrushing are factors in the prevention of caries in toddlers. Breast- and bottle-feeding after the 18th month of life, the reluctance to eat solids, lack of vitamin D supplementation, hygienic neglect, and delay in introducing oral health behaviours may contribute to the development of caries in toddlers.

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BackgroundSevere early childhood caries (S-ECC) is a form of dental caries in toddlers, which can strongly affect general health and quality of life. Studies on factors that can contribute to the development of caries immediately after tooth eruption are sparse. The aim of this study was to assess the role of sociobehavioural factors and pre- and postnatal exposure to tobacco smoke in the aetiology of dental caries in children up to 3 years old.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted between 2011 and 2017 to assess oral health and teething in urban children 0–4 years of age. The number of teeth and surfaces with white spot lesions (d1,2), as well as decayed (d), missing (m), and filled (f) teeth classified according to ICDAS II was evaluated in a dental office setting. d1,2dmft and d1,2dmfs were calculated. Severe early childhood caries was diagnosed for d1,2dmfs > 0. Parents completed a self-administered questionnaire on socioeconomic factors, maternal health, course of pregnancy, child's perinatal parameters, hygiene and dietary practices, as well as maternal smoking during and after pregnancy. Data on children aged 12–36 months were collected and analysed statistically using the t-test, Spearman rank correlations and Poisson regression. Significance level was set at 0.05.ResultsDental caries was found in 46% of 496 children aged 12–36 months. Mean d1,2dmft and d1,2dmfs were 2.62 ± 3.88 and 4.46 ± 8.42, respectively. Tobacco smoking during and after pregnancy was reported by 8.9% and 24.8% of women, respectively. Spearman's rank correlation analysis confirmed a relationship between S-ECC and parental education, maternal smoking, bottle feeding, avoiding springy foods, number of meals, and the age of tooth brushing initiation. Pre- and postnatal exposure to tobacco smoke increased the risk of S-ECC especially in children in age 19–24 months. Maternal smoking was correlated with the level of education and dietary practices.ConclusionOur study confirmed that prenatal smoking is associated with increased risk of severe-early childhood caries (S-ECC) while the association with post-natal smoking is also evident, the increase in risk is not statistically clear. Both maternal smoking and the child's tooth decay are associated with poor parental education and other improper oral health behaviours. The positive impact of quitting smoking on the oral health in children should be part of anti-smoking advice.

Introduction. Early childhood caries affects 41.1% of Polish 3-year-olds. If left untreated, it can affect overall health, cause local infections, and reduce quality of life. Objective. To evaluate the first dental visits of children in the first three years of life in the Warsaw agglomeration. Material and methods. A questionnaire survey of parents/legal guardians of children aged 12 to 36 months, living in the Warsaw agglomeration was conducted. The questionnaire included questions about socioeconomic factors (level of education and age of both parents, number of children in the family, economic level of the family) and the child's first dental visit (age and reason for visiting). Statistical analysis was performed on data obtained from correctly completed questionnaires (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient to assess the relationships between selected variables and using the chi-square test to compare the percentages, p <0.05). Results. 496 out of 827 returned questionnaires were included in the analysis. The mean age of the children was 24.16 ± 6.92 months. 249 (50.2%) children visited the dentist. The most common reasons for the first visit were: dental check-up (47.4%), tooth trauma (19.7%) and the presence of carious lesions (13.3%). The first visits due to trauma were usually reported by children aged 12-18 months. Only 57 (11.5%) children visited the dentist in the first year of life. Among them, the most frequent reason for the visit was check-up (34; 6.9% of the entire study group). There was an increasing frequency of the first dental visit with the age of the child, as well as a negative correlation between the level of education of parents and the visit caused by toothache, abscess or the presence of carious lesions. Tooth decay as a reason of first dental visit was also associated with the lower age of the mother. Conclusions. The recommendation to schedule the first dental visit in the first year of a child's life is not satisfactorily implemented in Poland. It is necessary to disseminate recommendations among the medical personnel providing pediatric and dental care.

Introduction. The high incidence and level of early childhood caries (ECC) in children aged 3 years in Poland indicate a high risk of developing this disease in younger children. Caries most often develops on the occlusal surfaces of molars. The distribution of caries in primary dentition changes with age. In younger children, the maxillary incisors are most often affected by caries, while in the older ones – molars. There are no current data describing caries distribution in younger children in Poland. Aim. Assessment of caries distribution, taking into account the surface in primary dentition in children in the second and third year of life from the Warsaw agglomeration. Material and methods. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among children aged 12-36 months to assess dental condition for the presence of non-cavitated (d1) and cavitated caries (d2), fillings (f), and missing (m) teeth (t) and surfaces (s) caused by caries. The frequency of ECC and its intensity (d1d2mft and d1d2mfs) were determined. In the statistical analysis, the chi-square test was used to compare the fractions (percentages). Results. A total of 496 children were examined, including 262 (52.8%) boys. S-ECC was recorded in 44.8% of the respondents, d1d2mft and d1d2mfs reached the values of 2.62 ± 3.88 and 4.46 ± 8.42, respectively. Central maxillary incisors (34.2%) and the first molars of both arches (21.0%, including 23.5% for the maxilla and 18.6% for the mandible) were most commonly affected by carious lesions. Carious lesions were most often found on the labial surfaces of the maxillary incisors (19.1%) and occlusal first molars (19.4%). Conclusions. Primary teeth caries in the early childhood period is characterized by a rapid transformation of non-cavitated lesions into cavitated ones and subsequent eruption of teeth. Carious lesions most are most often found on the labial surfaces of the central incisors of the maxilla and occlusal surfaces of the first molars.