Objective
To detect
Streptococcus mutans
in colostrum and saliva of neonates and compare with its detection in saliva of mothers.
Methods
Forty-three healthy women, full-term gestations with no complications, submitted to elective Cesarean section, and their newborns were included in the study. Samples were investigated by polymerase chain reaction to detect
S. mutans
in genetic material from the samples.
Results
Approximately 16% of colostrum samples showed
S. mutans
, but not correlated with the presence of the bacteria in both samples of saliva.
S. mutans
was detected in 49 and 30% of saliva samples of mothers and neonates, respectively. There was a positive correlation in
S. mutans
detection between types of saliva. The number of maternal samples of saliva with detectable
S. mutans
was smaller in women receiving dental treatment during pregnancy. Tooth brushing, three times a day, influenced the detection of
S. mutans
in both the saliva and the colostrum.
Conclusion
Although maternal saliva may present
S. mutans
, few samples of colostrum present the bacteria. The presence of bacteria in neonate saliva may be related to contact before birth. Dental treatment and hygiene habits seem to influence the detection of
S. mutans
in samples of maternal saliva and colostrum.