Assessing Mothers' Knowledge of Preventing Dental Caries in Breastfed versus Bottle-Fed Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: To assess maternal knowledge about ECC prevention in breastfed versus bottle-fed children, exploring how breastfeeding practices and socio-demographic factors like education and income influence this understanding. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 340 mothers from the dental clinics at Qassim University. Mothers, aged 20-49 and currently breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, completed questionnaires covering socio-demographic background, birth-related information, and knowledge about the dental health of toddlers. The questionnaires were adapted from previous studies and translated into Arabic. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS, focusing on descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. Results: The majority of participating mothers fell within the 30-39 age range, were employees, and predominantly practiced mixed feeding. While many showed acceptable to high knowledge about child dental prevention and awareness of dental caries due to lactation, significant gaps were noted in areas like the timing of the first dental visit and understanding of the impact of nocturnal breastfeeding on caries development. Variations in knowledge were also observed across different income groups and lactation types. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for targeted educational interventions to bridge knowledge gaps among mothers, particularly regarding the timing of dental appointments and the implications of feeding practices on dental health. It underscores the importance of educational and socio-economic factors in shaping maternal knowledge about ECC prevention.