Early colonization of the oral cavity in 6- and 12-month-old infants by cariogenic and periodontal pathogens: a case-control study

Abstract

The colonization of the oral cavity by cariogenic and periodontal pathogens occurs earlier than previously thought. This study aimed to identify the presence and quantity of representative cariogenic and periodontal pathogens in the oral cavities of 6- and 12-month olds and to evaluate the influence of C-section delivery on early Streptococcus mutans (Sm) colonization of the oral cavity. The research cohort was composed of 59 infants (35 infants were delivered vaginally and 24 via C-section) and their mothers. At 6 months of age, the infants were examined, and unstimulated saliva samples were collected. Variables concerning mothers were DMF index and salivary levels of Sm. Repeated saliva samples were taken 6 months later. The representative cariogenic and periodontal microorganisms were identified, and their quantities were measured using a polymerase chain reaction-based method. The relationships between the presence of detected microbes, the mode of delivery, and maternal variables were evaluated using paired t tests, chi-squared test, and ANOVAs. High rates of cariogenic bacteria, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), were found in both infant cohorts. An analysis of the differences between delivery methods revealed that the group of 6-month-old vaginally delivered infants had a significantly higher amount of Sm. We conclude that the cariogenic bacteria, Aa and Fn, are present in edentulous infants. This presence increases in the months following the eruption of the deciduous teeth. Results did not confirm the influence of C-section delivery on the early Sm colonization of the oral cavity.

Cesarean Section, Formula Feeding, and Infant Antibiotic Exposure: Separate and Combined Impacts on Gut Microbial Changes in Later Infancy

“…Only in the less disturbed microbiota group did the Fusobacterium microbe appear in the top 10 most enriched species. A common member of the oral microbiome, Fusobacterium , has been recently detected in the oral cavity of 6- and 12-month infants following the eruption of teeth ( 21 ). Further, increases to the abundance of genus Ruminococcus were the sole change in elective cesarean in the absence of breastfeeding.…”

Aggregatibacter Actinomycetemcomitans: Clinical Significance of a Pathobiont Subjected to Ample Changes in Classification and Nomenclature

“…An influential publication found carrier rates of 20% for normal juveniles, 36% for normal adults, 50% for adult periodontitis patients, and 90% for young periodontitis patients [107]. Early studies failed to culture the species from edentulous infants [108,109], but molecular studies using PCR on unstimulated saliva samples have challenged this association: 37 of 59 completely edentulous infants were positive for A. actinomycetemcomitans, reaching 100% at 12 months of age [110]. Vertical transmission is common.…”

A longitudinal study of the development of the saliva microbiome in infants 2 days to 5 years compared to the microbiome in adolescents

“…However, the trajectory to a health-or disease-associated oral microbiome from birth to adulthood is largely uncharacterized, as is the role of childhood microbiota traits in health or disease later in life.Bacteria that are characteristic of the mouth are found in the amniotic fluid 5 , but bacteria establishment in the mouth and other parts of the gastro-intestinal canal becomes significant from birth 6 . In the neonatal period, targeted characterization of the oral microbiota i.e., by culture and PCR, has revealed species in the Staphylococcus genus during the first two days of life 7,8 . Longitudinal maturation of the oral microbiota has been studied by culture 9,10 and DNA-based methods [11][12][13][14] with samplings beginning at 2-3 months of age and usually up to 12-24 months of age 14 .…”