Oral health behavior during early childhood in children with major congenital heart defects.

BACKGROUND: Good oral health in children with congenital heart defect (CHD) is important.

AIM: To assess oral health behavior during early childhood in children with CHD in comparison with children with no known systemic conditions and explore parental oral health behavior´s association with children's behavior.

DESIGN: 70 out of all 89 children born in Finland between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2020 with a) major CHD potentially included in the criteria of endocarditis prophylaxis or b) any CHD with surgical repair combined with a chromosomal syndrome, and a comparison group of 87 children with no known systemic conditions were recruited. 35 children with CHD were randomized to usual care (no intensified counseling) and were compared with 87 matched comparison children by a parental questionnaire assessing child and parental oral health behavior at child age at 24 months.

RESULTS: Toothbrushing twice a day (p=0.008) and use of fluoride toothpaste twice a day (p=0.059) was less common in CHDs than in comparisons. Non-water drinks between meals were more common among CHDs than in comparisons (p=0.015).

CONCLUSION: Children with major CHD experience poorer oral health behavior in comparison with children with no known systemic conditions during early childhood.