Risk factors of early childhood caries among preschool children in Shanghai, China: a longitudinal study

IntroductionEarly childhood caries(ECC) has caused a growing public health burden worldwide, but there still remains a gap in the understanding of ECC in Shanghai, China. This study aims to investigate the current profile of ECC and related risk factors of new-onset caries among preschool children i...

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Main Authors: Yating Xu, Minyi Xu, Weihua Zhang, Xiping Feng, Jingyu Zhan, Yu Zhang, Xi Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Oral Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1635569/full
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author Yating Xu
Minyi Xu
Weihua Zhang
Xiping Feng
Jingyu Zhan
Yu Zhang
Xi Chen
author_facet Yating Xu
Minyi Xu
Weihua Zhang
Xiping Feng
Jingyu Zhan
Yu Zhang
Xi Chen
author_sort Yating Xu
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionEarly childhood caries(ECC) has caused a growing public health burden worldwide, but there still remains a gap in the understanding of ECC in Shanghai, China. This study aims to investigate the current profile of ECC and related risk factors of new-onset caries among preschool children in Shanghai, China.Materials and methodsChildren aged 3–5 were included in this two-year longitudinal study from Shanghai. Oral health information and related factors were collected through clinical examinations and questionnaires. Logistic and general linear regression were used to investigate the risk factors of early childhood caries. Ethical approval and informed consent form were achieved in the study.ResultsA total of 192 children completed this 2-year longitudinal study with a follow-up rate of 80.0%. At follow-up, 70.8% of children developed new caries. The study revealed that children with lower mother's education level (p = 0.022), less father's income (p = 0.023), more frequent sugar intake (p = 0.006), and poor oral hygiene (p = 0.012) were more likely to develop new caries. Additionally, general linear regression demonstrated that children who did not use fluoride toothpaste (p = 0.006), those who consumed candy more (p = 0.028), and those with poor oral hygiene (p = 0.001) exhibited greater incremental caries.ConclusionLower father's income, lower mother's education level, frequent sugar consumption, non-use of fluoridated toothpaste, and poor oral hygiene status emerged as significant independent risk factors for ECC.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-c317c6b00c9c4ae8a878aa341ca98d882025-08-20T04:00:56ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oral Health2673-48422025-08-01610.3389/froh.2025.16355691635569Risk factors of early childhood caries among preschool children in Shanghai, China: a longitudinal studyYating Xu0Minyi Xu1Weihua Zhang2Xiping Feng3Jingyu Zhan4Yu Zhang5Xi Chen6Department of Preventive Dentistry, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Nursing, Shanghai Pudong New Area Eye and Dental Diseases Prevention and Treatment Center, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, ChinaIntroductionEarly childhood caries(ECC) has caused a growing public health burden worldwide, but there still remains a gap in the understanding of ECC in Shanghai, China. This study aims to investigate the current profile of ECC and related risk factors of new-onset caries among preschool children in Shanghai, China.Materials and methodsChildren aged 3–5 were included in this two-year longitudinal study from Shanghai. Oral health information and related factors were collected through clinical examinations and questionnaires. Logistic and general linear regression were used to investigate the risk factors of early childhood caries. Ethical approval and informed consent form were achieved in the study.ResultsA total of 192 children completed this 2-year longitudinal study with a follow-up rate of 80.0%. At follow-up, 70.8% of children developed new caries. The study revealed that children with lower mother's education level (p = 0.022), less father's income (p = 0.023), more frequent sugar intake (p = 0.006), and poor oral hygiene (p = 0.012) were more likely to develop new caries. Additionally, general linear regression demonstrated that children who did not use fluoride toothpaste (p = 0.006), those who consumed candy more (p = 0.028), and those with poor oral hygiene (p = 0.001) exhibited greater incremental caries.ConclusionLower father's income, lower mother's education level, frequent sugar consumption, non-use of fluoridated toothpaste, and poor oral hygiene status emerged as significant independent risk factors for ECC.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1635569/fullearly childhood cariesincidencerisk factorslongitudinal studydental caries
spellingShingle Yating Xu
Minyi Xu
Weihua Zhang
Xiping Feng
Jingyu Zhan
Yu Zhang
Xi Chen
Risk factors of early childhood caries among preschool children in Shanghai, China: a longitudinal study
Frontiers in Oral Health
early childhood caries
incidence
risk factors
longitudinal study
dental caries
title Risk factors of early childhood caries among preschool children in Shanghai, China: a longitudinal study
title_full Risk factors of early childhood caries among preschool children in Shanghai, China: a longitudinal study
title_fullStr Risk factors of early childhood caries among preschool children in Shanghai, China: a longitudinal study
title_full_unstemmed Risk factors of early childhood caries among preschool children in Shanghai, China: a longitudinal study
title_short Risk factors of early childhood caries among preschool children in Shanghai, China: a longitudinal study
title_sort risk factors of early childhood caries among preschool children in shanghai china a longitudinal study
topic early childhood caries
incidence
risk factors
longitudinal study
dental caries
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1635569/full
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