ArticleChildren (Basel, Switzerland)2026
The Role of Dietary Habits, Night-Time Feeding and Oral Hygiene in Early Childhood Caries: A Retrospective Observational Study in 248 Children from Southern Italy.
Article in Children (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundEarly Childhood Caries (ECC) is a prevalent multifactorial disease strongly influenced by dietary and behavioral factors. Night-time feeding practices and sugar exposure have been implicated, yet the relative impact of feeding duration, feeding type, and oral hygiene remains debated. This study aimed to investigate the association between ECC and major dietary and behavioral risk factors, with particular emphasis on the presence and duration of night-time feeding, in a pediatric population from Southern Italy.
methodsA single-center retrospective observational study was conducted on medical records of children aged 1-6 years referred for a first dental visit to a pediatric dentistry unit. ECC and severe ECC (S-ECC) were diagnosed according to AAPD criteria. Data on night-time feeding (presence and duration), sugar-rich diet, number of daily meals, oral hygiene habits, and age at initiation of toothbrushing were collected through structured interviews. Associations were evaluated using chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression analysis, with ECC/S-ECC as the dependent variable.
resultsA total of 248 children were included. ECC/S-ECC prevalence was 62.5%. A sugar-rich diet was associated with increased ECC risk (OR = 4.14,
conclusionsDuration of night-time feeding, rather than feeding type, represents a key modifiable determinant of ECC risk. Preventive strategies should prioritize early cessation of night-time feeding, reduction in sugar exposure, limitation of meal frequency, and early introduction of effective oral hygiene with fluoride.
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