Early childhood caries. Prevalence and etiological factors of a sample of Valencian children: cross-sectional study

Objective: Of this study is to assess the prevalence of early childhood caries and determine its association with somedietary and hygienic habits and to salivary pH. Methods: The sample was made up of 200 children aged between 6 and 36 months. We studied some variables relatedto dietary and hygienic habits obtained from a questionnaire filled in by their parents, and other variables collectedas a result of a dental exploration practiced to each child. Results: 62.5% of children presented caries lesions; among them 57.5% presented only incipient caries lesions, 1.5%were only cavitated, and 3.5% were incipient and cavitated caries lesions also. 65.5% received bottle feeding, 7.5% receivedbreastfeeding and 94% took cariogenic foods between meals. Several etiologic factors were observed as significantfor incipient caries lesions (p<0.05): a greater number of teeth in their mouth, higher values in the index of oral hygieneand the intake of sweet foods between meals. For cavitated lesions, the significant etilogic factors (p<=0.05) were theintake of bottle feeding and breastfeeding. Conclusion: The intake of sugary foods and drinks between meals, the use of bottle feeding and breastfeeding,without an adequate hygiene afterwards, were factors associated positively with dental demineralization.