Early childhood caries (ECC) is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases affecting young children worldwide and continues to pose a major challenge to pediatric oral health services. It is defined as the presence of one or more decayed, missing, or filled tooth surfaces in any primary tooth in children under six years of age. ECC is multifactorial in nature, resulting from the interaction of cariogenic microorganisms, dietary habits, host susceptibility, oral hygiene practices, and broader social determinants of health. If left untreated, ECC can lead to pain, infection, nutritional deficiencies, impaired speech development, and diminished quality of life. Traditional preventive measures have focused on fluoride use, oral hygiene promotion, and dietary counseling. However, recent advances emphasize risk-based disease management, minimally invasive dentistry, biofilm-targeted therapies, and integration of oral health into primary healthcare systems. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on ECC prevention and highlight recent advances in management strategies, while identifying gaps in existing research.

Keywords
Early childhood caries, prevention, pediatric dentistry, fluoride, minimally invasive dentistry, caries management.