Researchers have now identified a high birth weight as one of the major risk factors for the development of early childhood caries (ECC), which presents as an emerging global oral health problem. This points to the need for targeted preventive measures in children born with a birth weight of 4,000 grams or more. The latest study was published in the journal BMC Oral Health by Huning Wang and colleagues.
ECC is a serious public health problem in infants, toddlers, and young children with consequences for oral and general health well beyond childhood. Although a large literature is available on the association of low birth weight with ECC, there is a poor understanding of the influence of high birth weight on dental caries incidence and severity in young children. It has been due to this gap that this study assessed the relationship between high birth weight and dental caries in children aged 4-5 years.
In this study, 491 children aged 4-5 years were analyzed. Children were recruited from a population-based birth cohort study. The authors obtained full data related to dental caries, prenatal and perinatal factors, and socio-demographic determinants. The data was fitted by logistic regression models and adjusted by possible confounding variables. Two-sided P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results
• Among the 491 children studied, the prevalence of dental caries was 48.7%.
• The findings revealed a significant association between high birth weight (≥ 4,000 g) and an increased incidence of dental caries.
• Children with a high birth weight had an odds ratio (OR) of 2.000 (95% CI: 1.062–3.765) for developing caries compared to those with normal birth weight (2,500–3,999 g).
• An increased risk of more serious caries, with a dmft score higher than 3, was even observed in children of high birth weight.
• In this group, the serious caries odds ratio was 2.437 with a 95 percent CI of 1.306–4.549, which showed that these children were more in the risk category to experience major tooth decay.
The study’s findings suggest that high birth weight is a notable risk factor for early childhood caries, emphasizing the need for early and focused preventive dental care in this population. These results contribute to the broader understanding of how birth weight influences oral health outcomes in young children and highlight the importance of considering high birth weight as a factor in dental health assessments and interventions.
In conclusion, high birth weight (≥ 4,000 g) is associated with an increased risk of early childhood caries and more severe dental decay in 4–5-year-old children. These findings suggest that healthcare providers should pay particular attention to the dental health of children with high birth weight, incorporating early preventive strategies to mitigate the risk of caries development.
Reference:
Wang, H., Zhang, H., Zeng, X., Yu, J., Jiang, Y., Huang, L., Zeng, X., Chen, Q., Da, D., & Zhang, Y. (2024). Association between high birth weight and dental caries at 4–5 years of age: a birth-cohort study. BMC Oral Health, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-024-04651-6