Role of feeding practices on the oral health of preschool children of gram panchayat, Anoo, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh

AIM: To investigate the relationships between feeding habits and the prevalence of early childhood caries in preschool children. METHODS: children enrolled in six anganwadi units of gram panchayat Anoo (Hamirpur, H.P) were selected for the study. Clinical examinations were carried out by the examiner using dmft index. Questionnaires for information related to the dietary history of the children were completed by their mothers. RESULTS: Caries was seen in 55.38% of the children. Children who were breast fed on demand or were made to sleep with bottle were affected with caries more than children who were fed at fixed intervals only. CONCLUSION: The association between the pattern of feeding the child and extensive caries should be a consideration in any local infant feeding policies or health promotion strategies. The duration for appropriate breast- or bottle-feeding should be emphasized.