What do systematic reviews say?

Growth stunting (linear growth retardation, low height-for-age) vs Children without growth stunting (normal height-for-age)

One Nigerian cross-sectional study reported a significant adjusted association between nutritional (stunting) status and ECC (APR 0.14, 95% CI 0.03-0.69); ungraded.

• The bi-directional relationship between growth stunting and early childhood caries: a rapid review. 2023 All outcomes

  Nigeria (Ile-Ife, sub-urban) · Folayan et al. 2019 (Nigeria; adjusted, model 3)
  APR 0.14 [0.03, 0.69]
  1 study · 370 participants
  GRADE not reported
• The bi-directional relationship between growth stunting and early childhood caries: a rapid review. 2023 All outcomes

  Brazil · Vieira et al. 2020 (Brazil)
  Correlation (r) -0.091
  1 study · 82 participants
  GRADE not reported
• The bi-directional relationship between growth stunting and early childhood caries: a rapid review. 2023 All outcomes

  2-year follow-up · Ecuador (rural) · Sokal-Gutierrez et al. 2016 (Ecuador; pre vs post intervention)
  Pre/post ECC prevalence, dmft, and deep-caries proportion (2-year follow-up) Age 1: prevalence 53.8% to 30.3%, dmft 2.1 to 0.9; Age 2: prevalence 82% to 60%, dmft 5.3 to 3.0, deep caries 19% to 12% (pre vs post)
  1 study · 1575 participants
  GRADE not reported