Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between the feeding habits and prevalence of the early childhood caries among pre-school children of Udaipur city, Rajasthan. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted in school children between age group of 24-72 months. Demographic and attitudinal data were sought from parents of stratified randomly selected 586 children from this age group which was calculated according to a pilot study done two months prior to the study. RESULTS: Twenty-two point eight percent of the children examined were found to be affected with ECC. Forty-three point two percent and 65.3% of the children were breast fed and bed time fed respectively. Fifty-nine point one percent were weaned after 12 months of age. CONCLUSION: It was observed that there was increase risk of developing ECC with bed time feeding and among those children weaned after 12 months of age.
