IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRAL APPROACH OF CARIES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

Abstract

Introduction: early childhood caries (ECC) refers to the pathology found in primary dentition in children under 71 months of age. Despite significant advances in oral health education, ECC continues to affect an exacerbated number of children around the world. Objective: to review the literature emphasizing the integral approach of caries lesions in children in early childhood, pointing and discussing the etiology, the main interrelated risk factors in the onset of caries, pursuing necessary information to guide caregivers. Sources of data: were collected data from World Health Organization and articles in Portuguese and English that approached entirely the caries in early childhood, in the Virtual Health Library, Scielo and PubMed databases, from 2009 to 2020. Synthesis of data: caries in early childhood, as verified is a preventable disease if health promotion and ways
of prevention are taking as a priority since the child’s early years of old. The main risk factors of the disease are: the cariogenic diet, the socioeconomic level,
education of those responsible for the child, low contact with fluorides and lack of correct oral hygiene. Conclusion: the study of the factors involved in the development of ECC is relevant, since recognizing it, is possible to seek strategic ways to reduce the incidence of this disease that causes so many consequences. It was noticed that the guidance of caregivers is one of the main ways to prevent or
treat it early, avoiding further damage to the dentition.