Method: This was a descriptive pilot study. Information was gathered by means of a self administered questionnaire, a clinical examination of the children and a focus group discussion of caregivers. The examination was done using a dental mirror. The clinical examination measured visible plaque, teeth showing visible cavitation or deminerilisation and gingival inflammation. The sample consisted of 31 infants and their caregivers.
Results: In the 9month group all children (N=23)with teeth present (39%) had visible plaque on the anterior maxillary teeth,87% were bottle fed with a third having sugar added to the bottle, 20% had a feeding bottle at bedtime, caregivers reported to start mouth cleaning from birth (74%) or before 6months (26%). In the 18month group(N=9), 33% had visible plaque and deminerilisation on the maxillary anterior teeth,66% had a feeding bottle in combination with breast and cup feeding. Feeding bottles contained sweetened Rooibos tea, undiluted juice and water with or without sugar. Mouth cleaning started before 6months or between 9 and 12 months.Caregivers reported to: generally use a cloth to clean the mouth, look into the mouth for newly erupted teeth, add sugar to the feeding bottle for taste, put the child to bed with a bottle as this was easier and the child fell asleep quicker. They associated a healthy mouth with no problems with feeding and no bad smells. Conclusion: The caries risk in this group demonstrates a need for early interventions to address this public health problem. Routine visits of mothers and infants to PHC facilities provide opportunities for oral health interventions,thereby integrating oral health with general health.