Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Dietary practices, oral hygiene, and parental behavior have an impact on early childhood caries (ECC), a common chronic illness in preschoolers. Children's oral health outcomes are significantly influenced by the nutrition literacy and oral health knowledge of their parents.
Aim and Objectives
To assess parental nutrition literacy, including knowledge, attitudes, and practices, and its association with early childhood caries (ECC) among children aged 3–6 years.
Methods
Three hundred fifty parent–child pairs were included in a cross‐sectional study. A standardized questionnaire was used to gather information on sociodemographic, nutritional, and oral health practices, attitudes, and knowledge. Chi‐squared tests were used to examine group differences;
p
Results
Compared with parents of children with ECC, parents of caries‐free children showed significantly greater knowledge, preventive attitudes, and protective behaviors. The control group had significantly better maternal nutrition awareness (
p
= 0.001), accurate comprehension of the sugar caries link (
p
p
p
.
Conclusion
Oral hygiene habits and parental nutrition literacy are significant, modifiable predictors of ECC. To lower the prevalence of ECC and encourage the best possible oral health in preschoolers, targeted, culturally sensitive interventions, early behavioral guidance, and organized parental involvement are crucial.