Association of Sleep-Time Feeding Practices with Early Childhood Caries: A Case-Control Study

Early childhood caries (ECC) remains a public health challenge globally, more so in developing countries. The association between sleep-time feeding practices and ECC remains obscure. The study evaluated this association using Feeding At Sleep Time (FeAST) scale. A case-control study was planned among 627 toddlers, were cases included children with ECC while controls were children without ECC. Three patterns of feeding associated with sleep were recorded: beginning of sleep, during the course of sleep, and early morning hours sleep. Dental caries was scored using International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS II). The study participants included 302 (48%) cases and 325 (52%) controls. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for breastfeeding at the beginning of sleep, during the course of sleep, and early morning hours sleep were 6.7, 6.5, and 3.7, respectively (p = 0.001), on comparing cases versus controls. Similarly, AORs for bottle-feeding at the beginning of sleep, course of sleep, and early morning hours sleep were 5.1, 8.3, and 3.7, respectively (p = 0.001). Addition of sweeteners yielded an AOR = 2.84, while the intake of solids during sleep yielded an AOR of 6.02(p = 0.001). Other feeding modes like sippers, tumblers, etc., had a statistically significant association (p = 0.001). Sleep-time feeding practices increase the risk for ECC in 12- to 36-month-old children.