Publication:

Stages, risk factors and prevention of early childhood caries

Early childhood caries is a common condition that affects children and young infants. In addition to the effect of the condition on the child's oral health, it has been furtherly shown that many systemic consequences are usually associated. Therefore, it has been reported that these conditions can significantly impair the quality of life of corresponding families based on economic and health-related burdens. Affected children usually present with variable degrees of the condition, and some complications might be associated. Many risk factors have been reported in the literature for developing the condition in children. These include the presence of certain bacterial pathogens (especially through vertical transmission), dietary habits, and poor oral hygiene. Evidence indicates that these risk factors significantly contribute to the development of early childhood caries and the importance of the child's socioeconomic status and his caregivers. Targeting these factors would significantly reduce the risk of developing the condition, in addition to fluoridation as suggested by various relevant investigations.