Chatting with moms may stop baby cavities

This study tests if motivational interviewing, a counseling style that helps people find their own motivation to change, can help mothers prevent early childhood caries (cavities) in their infants. Researchers will enroll 228 mother-infant pairs in Malaysia, with half receiving motivational interviewing and the other half receiving standard advice. The goal is to see if this approach improves mothers' knowledge and practices around infant oral health and reduces cavities by the time the baby is 12 months old.