The effect of feeding factors on the development of nursing caries in 2-4 year old children in kindergartens of Zahedan in 2006

Nursing caries is a developing and rampant form of caries in the primary dentition, which results from pooling of fermentable liquids on primary teeth. This study was carried out to determine the effect of feeding factors on the development of nursing caries in 2-4 year old children in kindergartens of Zahedan.

In this analytical-cross-sectional study that was conducted in 2006, the social-economic status background (educational background of parents), past feeding practice (breast or bottle feeding and frequency of feeding in day or at night) of 230 2-4 year old in Zahedan, who had been selected in a multi-stage random manner, were examined. The children were examined by mirror and catheter. Diagnostic criterion for nursing caries was caries of at least two maxillary incisors.

Prevalence of nursing caries in the studied population was 13%. Factors such as breast feeding, frequency of bottle feeding at night, referring to dentist, and gender correlated with development of nursing caries (p<0.05). Bottle feeding during day or at night and the frequency of breast feeding did not have any significant effects on the development of nursing caries.

The prevalence of nursing caries was less in children who had breast feeding, whereas it was higher in children who had frequent bottle feeding at night. Nursing caries was also more common in boys than girls.