Bacterial, behavioral and environmental factors associated with early childhood caries

Abstract

The goals of this cross-sectional study were to characterize and compare demographic, behavioral, and environmental factors potentially associated with early childhood caries (ECC) and to assess salivary levels of mutans streptococci (MS) and lactobacilli (LB) in underserved, predominantly Hispanic children. One hundred forty-six children aged 3 to 55 months with a range of caries experience were identified and examined. ECC was primarily associated with the presence of MS and lack of access to dental care. Salivary MS levels among young children with ECC were higher than would be expected in a dentally healthy population, but lower than levels reported among older children at high risk for caries.After adjustment for age, children with log10 MS ≥ 3.0 or log10 LB ≥ 1.5 were about five times as likely (OR=4.9, 95%CI=2.0,12.0) to have ECC than those with lower bacterial levels. This study demonstrated a significant association between relatively low cariogenic bacterial levels and dental caries in infants and toddlers. Antibiotic use, exposure to lead, and anemia were not significantly associated with the number of decayed and filled surfaces or decayed and filled teeth. ECC correlated significantly with child's age and lack of dental insurance of the children, as well as inversely with both family income and the educational level of the mother of the child.

Detection of streptococcus mutans and streptococcus sobrinus in dental plaque samples from Brazilian preschool children by polymerase chain reaction

“…Dental caries, one of the most common infectious diseases in humans, is still a significant public health problem in several countries (1). Mutans streptococci (MS) (Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus), the most common pathogens isolated from human dental plaque, are considered the major etiologic agents of caries disease.…”

“…Mutans streptococci (MS) (Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus), the most common pathogens isolated from human dental plaque, are considered the major etiologic agents of caries disease. Epidemiological studies have reported that S. mutans is more prevalent than S. sobrinus in dental plaque (1,2), but have also shown that the prevalence of S. sobrinus is more closely associated with a high caries incidence (3).…”

Early Childhood Caries: A Review

“…[32][33][34] Relationship among ECC and the financial status has been very much reported. Children with a background marked by dental caries, whose parents and siblings have serious dental caries, are viewed as being at high risk of having dental caries in their future.…”

Desnutrição energético-protéica e cárie dentária na primeira infância

“…Cárie de Primeira Infância (CPI) é uma doença infecciosa e transmissível na dentição decídua, com uma etiologia complexa e multifatorial, envolvendo microorganismos cariogênicos, carboidratos fermentáveis e superfícies dentárias suscetíveis 42 . A cárie dentária se constitui um grande problema de saúde pública nos países subdesenvolvidos 43 e no Brasil.…”