Abstract
Initially, the American Academy of Pedodontics and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) jointly addressed severe tooth decay related to bottle use by issuing a statement on Nursing Bottle Caries. However, over the next two decades, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) expanded its understanding, recognising that early childhood caries (ECC) resulted from various inadequate feeding practices, leading to the adoption of the broader term "ECC" to better reflect its complex causes. This review discusses ECC: its prevalence, risk factors, effects, prevention, early detection, and treatment. It emphasises diet, oral hygiene, socio-economic status, and the importance of parental education and access to dental services in ECC. The aim is to synthesise research to improve ECC understanding and management. This paper reviews the causes and effects of ECC on oral health. Data were obtained from databases like PubMed and Google Scholar, using relevant keywords. The review used English-language articles, including research and policies. This review reveals that ECC is a complex disease causing severe tooth decay in young children. ECC development is influenced by diet, oral hygiene, quality of life, fluoride intake, oral microbiota, environmental factors, and feeding practices. It can lead to short- and long-term issues, like pain, infection, eating and speech difficulties, poor development, and enamel defects. Effective prevention requires multifaceted strategies involving home care, dental interventions, community support, and policies. A major, yet preventable, disease, ECC significantly impacts global oral health, particularly in deprived children. Starting with the first tooth, it harms development and well-being. Prevention relies on public education, interprofessional collaboration, and implementing AAPD policy recommendations.