The association between antibiotics usage in early childhood and early childhood caries.

PURPOSE The objectives of this study were to learn if the intake of systemic antibiotics during the first year of age (period of primary teeth development) was associated with an increased risk for early childhood caries during the following years; and after the first year of age (following the formation of primary teeth) was associated with a lower risk for early childhood caries during the following years. CONCLUSIONS Children who used systemic antibiotics during the first year of age had a significantly greater risk for early childhood caries (ECC) during follow-up compared to children who did not use antibiotics. After the first year of life, only children who used systemic antibiotics at 13 to 18 months old showed a significant increase in the risk of ECC. A child's racial background was a determining factor in the association between antibiotic intake and ECC.