As very young children are dependent on their
mothers, primary prevention programs which aim to
reduce ECC by improving the oral health of mothers
are likely to improve the oral health of their
offspring.6 However, a more recent study in Japan
(2008) revealed that dental caries was associated
more strongly with child-related health behavior than
mother-related health behavior.7 Thus, even though a
mother does not have good health behavior, if she pays
more attention to her child, then the child will have
fewer dental caries problems. It has been suggested
that encouraging mothers to have good knowledge
about preventing dental caries in child-rearing could
result in children enjoying better oral health.