Table 3: Association between dental caries among preschool children and sociodemographic characteristics, breastfeeding, and oral hygiene practice (N = 425)

		Present				Absent
Characteristics		n		%		n		%		p-value
Age (months)
36-48		43		21.39		137		61.16		0.001*
49-60		66		32.84		58		25.89
61-72		92		45.77		29		12.95
Gender
Male		100		49.75		101		45.09		0.40
Female		101		50.25		123		54.91
Child’s birth order in a family
1st		27		13.43		78		34.82		0.001*
2nd		81		40.30		113		50.45
3rd		93		46.27		33		14.73
Religion
Hindu		161		80.10		197		87.95		0.271
Muslim		28		13.93		21		9.38
Christian		12		5.97		6		2.68
Caste
General		69		34.33		91		40.63		0.927
OBC		75		37.31		65		29.02
SC		35		17.41		46		20.54
ST		22		10.95		22		9.82
Socioeconomic class
Upper class		4		1.99		11		4.91		0.001*
Middle class		39		19.40		112		50.00
Lower class		158		78.61		101		45.09
Duration of giving breastfeeding (months)
0-12		31		15.42		120		53.57		0.001*
13-24		27		13.43		49		21.88
>24		143		71.14		55		24.55
No		136		39.42		209		60.58
Child brushes teeth under parent supervision
Yes		33		16.42		128		57.14		0.001*
No		168		83.58		96		42.86

*Signifies that the p-value is less than 0.05 and is statistically significant