Hariyani N, Do L G, Spencer A J, Thomson W M, Scott J A, Ha D H. Maternal caries experience influences offspring's early childhood caries - a birth cohort study. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2020: DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12568.

…. may inform the treatment of their children.

Early childhood caries (ECC) is one of the most common chronic diseases in young children, leading to pain, speech and chewing problems and a poorer quality of life. Research shows that there is a relationship between the mothers' caries status and that of their children. Maternal oral health is dependent on the interaction between social determinants and their own health behaviours, and reaction to preventive advice.

This longitudinal study followed all new mothers and their children (n = 2181) born between mid-2013 and mid-2014 in Adelaide, South Australia. Questionnaires were completed at birth and 3, 6 and 12 months. 47.7% (n = 1040) consented to a visual oral examination of both mother and child when the child was 24 months old.

The prevalence of ECC was 10.6% and children of mothers with high caries experience were at 2.27 times higher risk of developing ECC than those of mothers with low caries experience. Thus, modification of maternal oral behaviours may reduce the risk that their child develops ECC.