Role of mutans streptococci, acid tolerant bacteria and oral Candida species in predicting the onset of early childhood caries.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

Early childhood caries is the most common chronic infectious disease in children in the United States. This study, which is part of a larger, longitudinal study exploring oral microbiological components of caries development in children, reports on the impact of total mutans streptococci (MS), total acid tolerant bacteria and Candida species on the development of dental caries in a subset of these children. Of particular interest was the relationship between caries development and co-colonization of mutans streptococci and Candida species.

Methods

Children between the ages of 12 and 47 months displaying no evidence of dental caries were recruited for a longitudinal study (n = 130). Twelve age- and gender-matched pairs were selected. In each pair, one

SUBMITTER: Villhauer A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10768932 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature