Association between the incidence of early childhood caries and attending childcare among toddlers in a rural area of Japan: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the incidence of early childhood caries (ECC) and factors of the daytime childcare environment among toddlers in a rural area of Japan.

Material and methods

This was a prospective cohort study. Data collected from 2011 to 2015 were obtained for initially caries-free, 18-month-old toddlers (N = 640). Dentists recorded the numbers of decayed, missing and filled teeth (caries incidence) of toddlers at baseline (age 18 months) and follow-up (age 3 years). In addition, a questionnaire survey was conducted on guardians at baseline to record data on lifestyle.

Results

In total, 159 (24.8%) toddlers had newly identified ECC at follow-up. Logistic regression analyses indicated that the incidence of ECC was significantly associated with receiving daytime care at a nursery school (odds ratio [OR], 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–2.30; p = .029), prolonged breastfeeding (OR, 1.71; 95%CI, 1.15–2.55; p = .008), and snacking ≥3 times a day (OR, 2.39; 95%CI, 1.53–3.74; p < .001).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that receiving daytime care at a nursery school, prolonged breastfeeding, and frequent snacking are associated with an increased risk of ECC among Japanese toddlers in rural areas.

Keywords:

• Dental caries
• toddler
• nursery school
• early childhood caries
• childcare

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of the Maniwa City Office and Mimasaka Public Health Center staffs.

Disclosure statement

Aya Yokoi, Noriko Takeuchi, Daisuke Ekuni, and Manabu Morita declare that they have no conflict of interest.