Correlation of Feeding Practices and Dental Caries among Preschool Children of Jazan, KSA: A Cross-sectional Study

OBJECTIVE: Breastfeeding is integral for the healthy development of infants during the first year of life. The objective of this study was to investigate the feeding practices and their effect on dental health among Saudi children in rural Jazan, the southern region of Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 330 participants from two villages namely Baish and Abu-Areesh of Jazan Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Mothers whose children were above 2 years of age agreed for a face-to-face interview to discuss about feeding practices followed for their children. Later, these children underwent a complete dental examination. RESULTS: In this study, it was found that a majority of mothers, 203 (61.15%) of them breastfed their children for less than a year, 105 (31.8%) of them breastfed for 2 to 4 years, and the remaining 22 (6.6%) of them breastfed for more than 4 years. Two hundred and forty-nine (75.15%) moms reported that they added sugar to milk while feeding and 259 (78.4%) mothers reported using sugar with pacifiers. Increased incidence of caries was seen with a statistically significant difference in children who were fed during sleep (p = 0.038), when the infant's teeth were not brushed after feeding (p = 0.004), and when sugar was added while feeding (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of dental caries was high in children who were fed during sleep and also in those kids using pacifiers containing sugar. Oral hygiene practices were also inadequate and positively associated with dental caries. These findings are suggestive of developing general and oral health interventions for children and also educating mothers on appropriate feeding practices. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Dahas ZAH, Khormi HAJ, Vishwanathaiah S, et al. Correlation of Feeding Practices and Dental Caries among Preschool Children of Jazan, KSA: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(4):327–331.