Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

30 questions · 39 findings · 6 reviews · Dental caries

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No studies found 1 · 2.6%GRADE not reported 28 · 71.8%Very low 1 · 2.6%Low 8 · 20.5%Moderate 1 · 2.6%High 0 · 0%

Advice about a healthy diet (including breastfeeding promotion and sugar avoidance) and feeding practices (e.g. relating to bottle-feeding and sleep) for infants and young children vs usual care

Caries in primary teeth: dmft (3 years) · For interventions, pregnant women, mothers or other caregivers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes, children up to 6 years…

It is very uncertain whether advice about a healthy diet (including breastfeeding promotion and… changes dmft index score (decayed, missing, filled primary teeth; range 0-20) compared with standard care (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood caries 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
Children assessed at 4 yrs
MD -0.90 [-1.85, 0.05]
1 study · 340 participants
Very low

Advice about a healthy diet (including breastfeeding promotion and sugar avoidance) and feeding practices (e.g. relating to bottle-feeding and sleep) for infants and young children vs usual care

Child oral health behaviours · For interventions, pregnant women, mothers or other caregivers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes, children up to 6 years…

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood caries 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
Two trials (Feldens 2007; Watt 2009) reported infant/child oral health behaviours; not suitable for meta-analysis. Both observed some evidence of benefit favouring the intervention.
2 studies
GRADE not reported

Advice about a healthy diet (including breastfeeding promotion and sugar avoidance) and feeding practices (e.g. relating to bottle-feeding and sleep) for infants and young children vs usual care

Adverse events for mother or child · For interventions, pregnant women, mothers or other caregivers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes, children up to 6 years…

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood caries 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
One trial only (Feldens 2007) provided information on adverse events and reported no events.
1 study
GRADE not reported

Bottle-feeding only vs Breastfeeding only

Early childhood caries (ECC) · Healthy children under 6 years in South Africa

No significant difference in caries odds was found between bottle-fed-only and breast-fed-only children (meta-analysis reported no difference; pooled estimate in an unavailable supplementary figure; not GRADE-rated).

1 finding from 1 review

Maternal and infant risk factors and risk indicators associated with early childhood caries in South Africa: a… 2022 All outcomes
South Africa
OR 1.30 [0.84, 2.02]
2 studies · 911 participants
GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Early childhood caries (ECC) - incidence/risk

The intervention showed no clear difference in early childhood caries (ECC) - incidence/risk; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Risk of Early Childhood Dental Caries Associated With Prolonged Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. 2025 All outcomes
Sensitivity analysis (Feldens 2010 excluded): breastfeeding >12 months
RR 1.37 [0.89, 2.12]
6 studies
GRADE not reported