Early childhood caries (ECC) - incidence/risk · Preschool children aged <=71 months (caries outcome assessed at 3-6 years)
Children exposed to secondary smoking from infancy have a higher incidence of early childhood caries by age 3 (RR 1.45; low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children aged 0-5 years in North Africa
Feeding on demand was associated with markedly higher odds of ECC (OR 9.66).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 9.66 [4.26, 21.93]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children aged 0-5 years in North Africa
Male children had higher odds of ECC (OR 2.911).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 2.911 [1.42, 5.99]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children aged 0-5 years in North Africa
A history of dental visits was associated with higher odds of ECC (OR 2.444).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 2.444 [1.108, 2.072]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Intervention not reported
Early childhood caries (ECC), prevalence
1 finding from 1 review
Prevalence 57 [44, 70]
7 studies
GRADE not reported
Early childhood caries (ECC) - incidence/risk · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years)
Breastfeeding for 12-24 months may not increase ECC risk (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
RR 1.21 [0.82, 1.78]
5 studies
Low
Intervention not reported
Early childhood caries (ECC), prevalence
1 finding from 1 review
Prevalence 51 [35, 67]
7 studies
GRADE not reported
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children aged 0-5 years in North Africa
Weaning after 18 months was associated with higher odds of ECC (OR 2.417).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 2.417 [1.340, 4.358]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children aged 0-5 years in North Africa
Nighttime sugary food intake was associated with higher odds of ECC (OR 1.104; source CI garbled).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 1.104 [1.167, 2.826]
1 study
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
RR 1.37 [0.89, 2.12]
6 studies
GRADE not reported
Intervention not reported
Early childhood caries (ECC), prevalence
1 finding from 1 review
Prevalence 59 [52, 67]
9 studies
GRADE not reported
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children aged 0-5 years in North Africa
Having one sibling was associated with higher odds of ECC (OR 3.32).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 3.32 [1.15, 9.54]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Intervention not reported
Dental caries (early childhood caries)
The intervention led to higher dental caries (early childhood caries); GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
OR 17.8 [6.3, 50.3]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Preschool children (<6 years)
After excluding one study, nocturnal breastfeeding was associated with higher ECC risk (RR 3.05, 95% CI 2.40 to 3.87; I²=33%).
2 findings from 1 review
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children aged <6 years
No significant association between cesarean vs vaginal delivery and ECC among America/Canada/Brazil studies (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.70-1.76).
17 findings from 1 review
OR 1.11 [0.70, 1.76]
5 studies
GRADE not reported
OR 0.86 [0.54, 1.38]
11 studies
GRADE not reported
OR 0.93 [0.65, 1.33]
12 studies
GRADE not reported
Show 14 more findings
Early childhood caries experience (mean dmft) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years)
Mean dmft was lowest (1.62 teeth) in low-inequality countries by Gini index.
16 findings from 1 review
Show 13 more findings
MEAN 3.34 [1.79, 4.88]
13 studies
GRADE not reported
MEAN 4.64 [3.38, 5.91]
19 studies
GRADE not reported
MEAN 3.87 [2.84, 4.91]
30 studies
GRADE not reported
MEAN 3.89 [1.62, 6.16]
7 studies
GRADE not reported
MEAN 4.04 [2.39, 5.68]
9 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomesCountries with 71-75 years life expectancy · Life expectancy: 71-75 years
MEAN 5.18
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
MEAN 4.28 [2.58, 5.97]
10 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomesCountries with no income inequality (Gini) · Gini index: no inequalities
MEAN 3.95
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
MEAN 3.08 [2.42, 3.74]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes49 countries worldwide; urban and rural communities · Overall (all regions)
MEAN 3.68 [2.99, 4.37]
60 studies
GRADE not reported
MEAN 1.13 [0.72, 1.55]
9 studies
GRADE not reported
MEAN 2.26 [0.69, 3.82]
11 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomesCountries with highest life expectancy (>80 years) · Life expectancy: >80 years
MEAN 1.34
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years)
Pooled ECC prevalence in Europe was 36% (95% CI 25-47).
16 findings from 1 review
Show 13 more findings
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomesCountries with no income inequality (Gini) · Gini index: no inequality
Prevalence 62
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Prevalence 42 [32, 53]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence 52 [45, 60]
33 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes49 countries worldwide; urban and rural communities · Overall (all regions)
Prevalence 49 [44, 55]
67 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence 55 [42, 68]
9 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomesCountries with low income inequality (Gini) · Gini index: low inequality
Prevalence 39
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomesCountries with highest life expectancy · Life expectancy: highest (>80 years)
Prevalence 28
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Prevalence 53 [41, 65]
14 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence 72 [58, 85]
7 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence 57 [36, 77]
5 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence 34 [20, 48]
6 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence 30 [22, 38]
11 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence 57 [47, 67]
19 studies
GRADE not reported
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Preschool children (<6 years)
After excluding Peres et al. (2017), breastfeeding for less than 24 months was associated with fewer caries (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.62; I²=6%).
2 findings from 1 review
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Preschool children (<6 years)
After excluding five studies, breastfeeding was associated with lower ECC risk in cohort studies (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.95; I²=0%).
3 findings from 1 review
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Preschool children (<6 years)
Breastfeeding for <12 vs ≥12 months was associated with significantly fewer caries (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.50-0.86), indicating breastfeeding beyond 12 months increases ECC risk (substantial heterogeneity; ungraded).
2 findings from 1 review