Temperament and Its Association With Oral Health-Related Behaviors and Early Childhood Caries in Young Children

Abstract

Background: Early childhood temperamental traits may offer insights into identifying children's susceptibility to early childhood caries (ECC) for targeted preventive interventions. Aim: To investigate the association between child temperament, oral health-related behaviors, and ECC in 2- to 3-year-old children. Design: This cross-sectional study of 405 child-caregiver pairs collected data through oral examinations and parent-completed questionnaires that assessed sociodemographic factors, diet, and oral hygiene practices. Child temperament was assessed using the Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire-Very Short Form, evaluating surgency/extraversion, negative affectivity, and effortful control. Carious status was assessed using the WHO dmft index. Associations were analyzed using bivariate and multiple logistic regression. Results: Higher effortful control scores were associated with weaning from night feeding (OR = 1.37, 95% CI [1.04, 1.78]) and cooperative brushing (OR = 1.51, 95% CI [1.07, 2.13]). Higher surgency scores were linked to frequent sweetened snacks/drinks consumption (OR = 1.30, 95% CI [1.02, 1.67]). However, ECC was not directly linked to temperament but was primarily influenced by parental factors, with effective plaque control, restricted cariogenic diet, and higher parental education being associated with reduced caries susceptibility. Conclusions: While temperamental traits are associated with behaviors that increase ECC susceptibility, their impact on oral health can be effectively mitigated through appropriate parental care and supervision.