Factors causing poor oral hygiene in infants with early teeth

Abstract

Oral diseases, such as dental caries and periodontal disease, can start from an early age, so understanding the factors that contribute to poor oral hygiene can help prevent these conditions that are highly prevalent and often preventable. The aim of the study was to interpret the factors causing poor oral hygiene in infants in the first dental pieces, through a bibliographic review. This study used an exploratory observational approach based on hermeneutics to interpret an extensive review of documents in English and Spanish selected from the PubMed database, covering research from the last ten years focused on infant oral hygiene and related factors, using keywords such as "oral hygiene," "infants," and "dental pieces." The study's results revealed that the main cause of poor oral hygiene in infants is a cariogenic diet, complemented by inadequate parental control over oral hygiene practices from early childhood, which significantly contributes to the development of dental diseases such as caries, dental malformations, and other more complex oral health problems. The main conclusion of the study indicates that early and proper care of oral hygiene in infants, supported by effective parental supervision and the avoidance of cariogenic diets, is crucial to prevent malformations and dental diseases, thus promoting optimal oral and general health from early childhood.