The aim of this study was to assess risk behaviors and its association with caries activity and dental caries in Japanese children. The subjects were 392 young Japanese children who underwent dental health checkup at 18, 30 and 42 months of age. Oral examinations, Cariostat tests and dental health questionnaires were carried out at each time. The caries prevalence of children was 1.5% at 18 months, 9.9% at 30 months and 28.1% at 42 months. Caries activity based on the Cariostat scores of children was correlated with caries status (caries-free/carious) at 42 months. In children with caries during each examination period at 42 months, eating snacks while playing was ranked as the most important behavioral risk (PϽ0.001), followed by breast-feeding (PϽ0.01), non setting of time for snacks (PϽ0.05) and frequency of snacks (PϽ0.05) at 18 months old; non brushing by mother (PϽ0.05) and eating snacks while playing (PϽ0.05) were ranked highest at 30 months old. In addition, eating snacks while playing (PϽ0.001) at 42 months old was the only a significant factor for children with caries. Caries activity and risk behaviors were associated with caries experience at different age periods of childhood. invented by Shimono in 1974 3). The test measures acid production capacity and can predict the occurrence of caries with good validity and reliability in young children or effective for screening high-risk populations in young children 4,5). The colonization of the mouth by cariogenic bacteria is by human transmission, mostly from mothers, fathers, caregivers to infants, and depends upon the rearing style given to infants and the quantity of harbored bacteria of the rearing individual. There is no single test that takes into consideration all these factors and can accurately predict an individual's susceptibility to caries. The risk of dental caries can be evaluated by analyzing and integrating several causative factors. Thus, this study was made to analyze risk behaviors that cause dental decay and assess risk behaviors and its association with caries activity and dental caries in Japanese children.

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The study compared CAT21 ® test scores (Cariostat score) of plaque and saliva samples of 117 kindergarten pupils to check the congruency of both sampling methods. The scores were also compared with that of the subject's "d" and "df " teeth. Test scores are based on color changes resulting from a decrease in pH brought about by presence of acid-producing microorganisms. Results revealed an early color change of the CAT21 ® test solution of the saliva samples compared to that of plaque samples. However, the difference in the color change in both sampling procedures became negligible after 48 hours of incubation. Results revealed a statistically significant correlation between CAT21 ® test scores of both sampling procedures and when compared with the mean "df " teeth. samples, i.e. Dentocult-SM ® Strip mutans 8,11) , and Dentocult-LB ® 8,11,12) (Orion Diagnostica). However, problems regarding cost, practical application, and inability to let children understand its significance arise during collection of stimulated saliva. The Cariostat Method [13][14][15] (CAT21 Test) developed by Shimono, is a colorimetric test that determines the acidogenecity of oral microorganisms in the plaque through changes in pH. Scoring is done by comparing the color results of the samples with the 4-scale (0, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0) reference color chart provided with the CAT21 ® (Morita Co., JAPAN) kit. A score of "0" designates a low caries susceptibility risk while "3.0" having the highest caries susceptibility risk. Sampling is done through the use of a sterile cotton swab by wiping bucco-cervical surfaces of the maxillary teeth 2 to 3 times from one quadrant to the opposite quadrant. The swab is to be placed into the ampoule and incubated for up to 48 hours at 37°C. Scoring of this test is done in front of a fluorescent daylight type lamp of which resulting colors are compared with the reference colors provided. A blue result is said to have a pH of ‫,3.0ע1.6‬ green having ‫,3.0ע4.5‬ yellow-green with ‫,3.0ע7.4‬ and finally

The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between a caries activity test (CAT21 Test), and caries status. The subjects of this study were 419 preschool children, of Okayama City, Japan and, of Ulaanbaatar City, Mongolia. In all, subjects were examined for dental caries using a mouth mirror and probe. Then buccal plaque samples were obtained, incubated at 37°C for 48 hours, and scored as per the manufacturer's instructions for the Cariostat method. The following results were obtained: 1. The caries prevalence and mean deft of the two subjects was 55.0% and 3.2 for Japanese, so 92.4% and 6.6 for Mongolians, respectively. 2. Results of the CAT21 Test score distribution are as follows: 14% of the Japanese, 7.6% of the Mongolians had a CAT score of 0 (very low risk), 38% of the Japanese, 12.4% of the Mongolians had a 1.0 (low risk), 16.3% of the Japanese, 17.9% of the Mongolians had a 2.0 (middle risk), 25.5% of the Japanese, 36.6% of the Mongolians had a 3.0 (high risk), and 6.2% of the Japanese, 25.5% of the Mongolians had a 4.0 (very high risk) score. 3. There was a statistically significant difference in the CAT21 Test scores and dental caries indices of Japanese and Mongolian preschool children (ANOVA PϽ0.01, PϽ0.001). From these results, it was suggested that the CAT21 Test is useful in clinical application. children from the dental hygiene and clinical standpoint, assessing caries activities in children at a given time is useful. The caries activity test is a means being tried out for the purpose. Many caries activity tests are designed to measure Keyes' three caries conductive factors, namely: oral substrates largely from food residues, certain types of bacteria, and host susceptibility 3). It is well known that dental caries is a multifactorial disease. The development of reliable and valid caries activity tests has also been needed. Attempts to assess existent caries activity were first made more than 100 years ago (Miller WD, 1890) and were extended and developed in the 1960s 4-6). Attempts to predict future caries activity have also been made during the past 30 years 7-9). These caries activity tests utilized various biochemical

Participants with low caries risk scores had low prevalence of cariogenic bacteria, 20 or more sound teeth, and fewer missing teeth. Incorporating caries risk assessment, using the Cariostat and PCR analysis, in the "8020" campaign in health systems worldwide will contribute to a better life for the aging society, initiate research interest regarding the program, and improve current health policies.