A comparative study of some influencing factors of rampant or nursing caries in preschool children.

Abstract

In this study, nutritional, socioeconomic and family characteristics of 71 children with rampant or nursing caries and 224 age-matched controls were studied on the basis of a questionnaire and a 3-day food intake diary completed by the parents. Oral examination was done and their weight and height measured. Most of the children with rampant or nursing caries had an unbalanced diet with high sugar content, while in the control group, most of the children had a balanced diet with a normal sugar content and regular brushing habits in comparison with the rampant caries group. Chi-square analysis, which was performed for balanced diet, sugar consumption and tooth brushing habits for both groups showed that there were highly significant differences. The rampant caries group was mostly from small families of middle and high socioeconomic groups. Infant feeding patterns of the children with rampant caries showed that most of them were breast-fed for less than 6 months or longer then 12 months. Their meals were usually sweetened in infancy and were given by nursing bottle and some had the habit of sucking a comforter dipped in honey or jam.